Getting Started

Quick Start

Get from install to your first secure wipe in under 5 minutes.

1

Launch Swipe

Open a terminal and run the application with root privileges:

sudo swipe

The app will open to the Disclaimer Screen. Read and accept the risk acknowledgement to continue.

2

Discover Your Drives

After accepting the disclaimer, you're taken to the Discovery tab. Swipe automatically scans for all connected storage devices via the C backend (FFI → libdriveinfo.so). Each drive is displayed with:

  • Model, serial number, and capacity
  • Connection protocol (ATA / NVMe / USB)
  • SMART health percentage
  • Security capabilities

Drives refresh every 3 seconds. Hot-plug a USB drive and it appears immediately.

3

Select a Wipe Method

Tap on a drive to view its details, then choose a wipe method:

Quick — Zero Fill

Single pass of zeros. Fastest option for non-sensitive data.

Standard — DoD 3-Pass

US DoD 5220.22-M short method. Good for most use cases.

Secure — NIST Purge

NIST 800-88 compliant clear. Recommended for enterprise.

Hardware — ATA Secure Erase

Drive firmware handles the erase. Fastest for supported drives.

4

Monitor Progress

Once started, the Sanitize tab shows real-time progress for all active wipe jobs, including:

  • Progress percentage with circular gauge
  • Write speed (MB/s)
  • Estimated time remaining
  • Current pass number (for multi-pass methods)

You can wipe multiple drives in parallel — each runs in its own native thread.

5

Generate Audit Certificate

When the wipe completes, tap "Generate Report" to create a professional PDF certificate containing:

  • Drive identification (model, serial, capacity)
  • Wipe method used and duration
  • Organization and technician details
  • SMART health data snapshot