scrub ☆
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Description:
Writes patterns on magnetic media to thwart data recovery
Type: Formula  |  Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Security
Tags: security data-wipe privacy cli utility
Install: brew install scrub
About:
Scrub is a command-line utility designed to securely overwrite data on magnetic media such as hard drives. It writes specific patterns, including random data and sequential fills, to the target device or file to meet government and industry standards for data sanitization. This process ensures that deleted data cannot be recovered, protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access.
Key Features:
  • Supports multiple overwrite patterns (e.g., random, DoD 5220.22-M)
  • Can operate on files, block devices, or raw disk partitions
  • Provides progress reporting and verification options
  • Complies with common data sanitization standards
Use Cases:
  • Securely wiping sensitive files before decommissioning hardware
  • Preparing hard drives for disposal or resale to prevent data leakage
  • Meeting compliance requirements for data destruction in enterprise environments
Alternatives:
  • shred – Standard GNU coreutil; similar functionality but scrub offers more specific patterns and device support.
  • srm – Secure file deletion tool; focuses on files rather than raw block devices.
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Sep 15, 2025 11:03pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 7bcea692
Sep 14, 2024 5:12pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 8f855798
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