LPIC-1 Administrative Tasks Practice Question
Which three actions can an administrator take to securely erase data on a disk before decommissioning?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates think `mkfs` or partition deletion fully erases data, when in fact they only remove logical pointers, leaving the raw data recoverable with simple forensic tools.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Run dd if=/dev/urandom of=/dev/sda.
Using `dd if=/dev/urandom of=/dev/sda` overwrites the entire disk with random data from the kernel's non-blocking random number generator. This makes the original data unrecoverable through forensic techniques, as each sector is overwritten with unpredictable values, effectively destroying any residual magnetic traces.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Format the disk with mkfs.
Why it's wrong here
Formatting only overwrites the filesystem metadata; data can often be recovered.
- ✗
Delete the partition and create a new one.
Why it's wrong here
Deleting partitions only removes the partition table; data remains on the disk.
- ✓
Run dd if=/dev/urandom of=/dev/sda.
Why this is correct
Overwrites the entire device with random data, making recovery extremely difficult.
- ✓
Run shred -n 3 /dev/sda.
Why this is correct
Shred overwrites the device multiple times with random patterns.
- ✓
Use the hdparm command with the --security-erase option.
Why this is correct
Hdparm can issue an ATA secure erase command to the drive, which wipes all data.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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