sfill

The "sfill" command line tool is a utility used in Linux and Unix-like operating systems. It is designed to securely overwrite free space on a file system.

When a file is deleted or removed, the space it previously occupied is not immediately wiped, making it potentially recoverable. sfill helps to address this issue by securely overwriting the free space with random data, making any remnants of deleted files virtually impossible to retrieve.

It uses the same method as the "shred" utility, but instead of targeting specific files, sfill focuses on the free space. By doing so, it ensures that not only the file contents are overwritten but also any metadata or file system structures related to the deleted file.

sfill offers different algorithms and options to customize the process of overwriting free space. Users can choose from distinct patterns for overwriting, specify the number of passes to perform, and set whether to sync the file system after each pass.

The tool is primarily used in situations where secure data deletion is required, such as when disposing of storage devices or when sensitive information needs to be permanently erased.

sfill is a powerful tool that contributes to maintaining data privacy and security by securely wiping free space on file systems.