
n, -iterations=N overwrite N times instead of the default (3) You can use shred -help for the full list, but here are some useful ones to start with: -f, -force change permissions to allow writing if necessary The device portion refers to your HDD mount point, but the options will vary depending on the usage case. The basic syntax for this command is as follows: The shred utility is used to overwrite your data repeatedly so that the deleted data can’t be recovered later. Afterward, you can use the lsblk -f command to verify the changes.Next, use the sudo mkfs -t command to format the partition with your preferred file system (ex.Then, use the sudo umount command to unmount the hard drive.First, use the df -h command to list the mounted file systems.Here are the steps to format your hard drive using this command: It’s used to format block storage devices with a specific file system.

The mkfs utility comes baked in with most Linux distros. Input your account password to confirm and proceed.Check the affected devices list and click on Format.Select Format Disk, specify the Erase Method and Partitioning Style, and click on Format.Select your HDD from the left pane and click on the Drive Options button.Alternatively, search disks and open the Disks utility.Open the File Browser, right-click the HDD and select Format.Here’s how you can format your hard drive using GNOME Disks:

This utility comes preinstalled with various distros, including Ubuntu. GNOME Disks is a partition manager that serves as a graphical front-end for udisks. After you check the pending operations, press Apply All Operations.

