Is there any software that will remove important directories if I do not use my OS for a set period?( newb)

jones5 · 07-17-2019, 02:49 PM

I ask the above in a theoretical case that I do not have access or control over my system for some unforeseen reason - illness, loss of computer etc - not nefarious use!

Is there any software that will eradicate my whole system or the most sensitive folders/directories and a pre-set amount of time can be chosen before the action is carried out

I could only find something called auto delete in windows?

dugan · 07-17-2019, 02:58 PM

Suggestion: use "at" to schedule a "dd" command that zeroes out your drives at, or after, a certain time.

petelq · 07-17-2019, 03:01 PM

How would you choose the set time if the future problem was unforeseen? Are you saying that it could self destuct after so many days (hours?, months?) of inaction? What if an outsider carried out some action within that time, the delay would be put off further.
You could always set a root crontab for future date with

Code:

rm -rf /

but hthat could spell disaster if you forgot to check.

BW-userx · 07-17-2019, 04:52 PM

if the system is always on, perhaps a loop.
a weeks worth of hours.

Code:

while sleep 168h
do
{
 rm -r /home/user/myspecialTOPSECRETfiles
  break
}
done

https://www.tecmint.com/10-most-dang...cute-on-linux/

dugan · 07-17-2019, 06:37 PM

Instead of taking this approach, have you considered protecting your data with encryption? Perhaps with VeraCrypt?

jones5 · 07-18-2019, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petelq

How would you choose the set time if the future problem was unforeseen? Are you saying that it could self destuct after so many days (hours?, months?) of inaction? What if an outsider carried out some action within that time, the delay would be put off further.

All good suggestions - I particularly liked the above point. I never foresaw 'if the problem was unseen' issue

I would set the time - say one month, simply by knowing what the maximum normal time would be to be away from the machine. Any longer would be unusual and therefore may warrant destruction. As I say it may seem overkill but just a theoretical situation.

Any solution would have to overcome the machine being left on standby or shutdown by accident - ie ran out of power.

Yes - I am saying it should self-destruct after a set period. I would assume no outsider could get into the system with password protection. So simply pressing keys would not count as 'action' to put off delay. I would need to access properly.

Yes - I have considered veracrypt, and I may use it as a (better) alternative.

Geist · 07-18-2019, 06:29 AM

You should definetely encrypt sensitive files, otherwise it's just too easy to get to them. Even windows has ext4 readers that don't give a hoot about passwords.
So if someone had physical access to your computer while you cannot prevent them from having it, your data is in extreme danger.