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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Shredding my SSDs (NVMe) under linux? (feddit.org)

submitted 2 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Hey guys,

I want to shred/sanitize my SSDs. If it was a normal harddrive I would stick to ShredOS / nwipe, but since SSD's seem to be a little more complicated, I need your advice.

When reading through some posts in the internet, many people recommend using the software from the manufacturer for sanitizing. Currently I am using the SSD SN850X from Western digital, but I also have a SSD 990 PRO from Samsung. Both manufacturers don't seem to have a specialized linux-compatible software to perform this kind of action.

How would be your approach to shred your SSD (without physically destroying it)?

~sp3ctre

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

OK there are 2 completely opposite thoughts on shredding SSDs

All SSDs have a trim functionality so any unused data gets set to 0 automatically by the os or in some cases by ssd controller
Even if trim sets it to zero there is always some deviation from the original zero and a very very sophisticated attacker can find the actual data. And simply using shred or /dev/zero doesn't help because SSD controller always writes to different physical location even for same file. And the only real way to ensure data can't be recovered is to smash it

Pick and choose depending on your threat model. If you're just selling it to someone or you know that no nation state actors are after your data then just do normal delete and then do the trim. If you think someone with capabilities is after your data and that they are willing to spend few hundred thousand dollars or even few million for whatever data is in your SSD then just microwave it and then smash with hammer. No need to shred or zero.