crush

Start interactive mode

$ crush

$ crush [[-d|--debug]]

$ crush [[-d|--debug]] [[-c|--cwd]] [path/to/project]

$ crush run "[Explain the use of context in Go]"

$ crush [[-y|--yolo]]

$ crush [[-v|--version]]

crush [OPTIONS] FILE...
crush [OPTIONS] DIRECTORY...

-f, --force
    Force deletion without prompt, even if the file is write-protected.

-r, --recursive
    Delete directories and their contents recursively.

-n PASSES, --passes=PASSES
    Specify the number of overwrite passes (default: 3). More passes increase security but take longer.

-z, --zero
    Overwrite with zeroes instead of cryptographically secure random data. Faster but less secure.

-v, --verbose
    Display detailed information during operation, showing progress and actions taken.

--shred
    Use advanced shredding patterns (e.g., Gutmann method) for enhanced security.

--wipe
    Perform a full device wipe on the specified block device (CAUTION: EXTREMELY DESTRUCTIVE).

The `crush` command, a hypothetical utility for demonstration purposes, is designed for the secure and permanent deletion of files or directories. Unlike standard `rm` which merely unlinks files, `crush` aims to overwrite the data multiple times with random patterns or zeroes before deletion, making forensic recovery extremely difficult or impossible.

It's intended for scenarios where sensitive information needs to be completely purged from storage devices. Users should exercise extreme caution, as data `crushed` by this command cannot be recovered. It operates by systematically overwriting sectors occupied by the target file(s), adhering to various data sanitization standards for robust data destruction. This ensures that even advanced data recovery techniques fail to reconstruct the original content.

The `crush` command, being hypothetical, represents a concept of secure data erasure. If such a command were to exist, its primary caveat would be its irreversible nature; once data is `crushed`, it is permanently lost.

Furthermore, on modern storage devices like SSDs or with journaling file systems, secure deletion can be complex due to wear-leveling, TRIM commands, and caching, which might prevent direct overwriting of specific physical sectors.

Users would need to understand these underlying storage mechanisms to ensure true data sanitization, and for critical data, physical destruction of media remains the only absolute guarantee.

While `crush` aims for unrecoverable deletion, sophisticated data recovery techniques, particularly in laboratory settings, might still glean partial information from severely damaged or partially overwritten media.

For ultimate security, physical destruction of storage media (e.g., degaussing, incineration, shredding) remains the most definitive method against all forms of data recovery.

Always double-check the target `FILE` or `DIRECTORY` arguments before executing `crush` due to its destructive nature.

It is recommended to use `crush` on unmounted filesystems or raw devices for complete sanitization when wiping entire partitions or drives, as the operating system might otherwise interfere with direct sector access.

As a hypothetical command, `crush` does not possess a real development history. However, the concept of secure data deletion emerged from the need to protect sensitive information from recovery, predating digital computers with physical destruction methods.

In the digital realm, early utilities focused on simple overwrites, evolving to more sophisticated algorithms like the Gutmann method.

The `shred` command, a real-world equivalent, was introduced as part of GNU Core Utilities to address these security concerns, providing a reliable method for irreversible file deletion on conventional storage devices. The name 'crush' evokes the destructive and irreversible nature of such a command.

rm(1), shred(1), dd(1), wipe(1), scrub(1)