Tutorial: Securely Wiping Data Using Shred OS Disc Eraser

Objective

Learn how to use Shred OS, a USB bootable Linux distribution, to completely and securely wipe out data on your hard drive.

Requirements

• A blank USB flash drive
• Shred OS image file
• Rufus utility program

Steps

Preparation

1. Download:
   • Shred OS image file
   • Rufus utility program
2. Create Bootable USB:
   • Plug in the USB flash drive and launch Rufus.
   • Select the correct device and partition scheme (MBR for legacy BIOS, GPT for UFI).
   • Click "Select" and choose the Shred OS image file.
   • Click "Start" to create the bootable USB.

Booting into Shred OS

1. Restart PC:
   • Boot into Shred OS using the boot menu key (F8, F9, F10, or Esc, depending on the PC).
2. Navigate Interface:
   • Adjust font size with F.
   • Use arrow keys to select disks/partitions.
   • Press Space to confirm selections.

Configuration and Execution

1. Select Wipe Method:
   • Press M to see wipe methods and use arrow keys for selection.
   • Confirm with Space.
2. Verification Options:
   • Press V for verification mode (last pass, all pass, or off).
   • Confirm with Space.
3. Adjust Rounds:
   • Press R to set the number of rounds by typing and pressing Enter.
4. Start Wiping:
   • Press Shift + S.
   • Process duration depends on drive capacity (e.g., 8 hours for 200 GB).

Completion and Reporting

1. Generate Report:
   • Press Enter to create a PDF wipe report and exit Shred OS.
   • Report is saved on the Shred OS bootable flash drive.
2. Return to Windows:
   • Restart using r.
3. View and Verify:
   • Open the report from the USB drive.
   • Check for a green check mark on the eraser status.

Final Steps

1. Initialize Disk in Windows:
   • Use Windows Disk Management Utility to initialize and create a new volume.

Conclusion

The tutorial demonstrates using Shred OS for secure data wiping. Thank you for following along.