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Strix Disk Cleaner

strix-tool.github.io

Free plan Open source WindowsLinux
Visit strix-tool.github.io
Spec score 8.0 #11 of 28 in Disk Wiping Software

What it is

Strix Disk Cleaner is a free tool for permanently wiping whole drives on Windows and Linux. It uses hardware sanitize where possible or multi-pass overwriting, and detects SSDs to recommend hardware sanitization because wear-levelling can make overwriting unreliable. The Windows edition provides a graphical interface and a printable destruction certificate; the Linux edition is a unit-tested command-line eraser. It cannot target individual files: its scope is whole drives. To reduce accidental selection, the system disk and mounted disks are unavailable, and destructive actions require typed confirmation. The tool makes no network calls and requires no account. SHA-256 checksums are published with each release for download verification. Builds are not yet code-signed, so Windows SmartScreen may warn on first run. The Free plan costs nothing and is open-source under the MIT license. The product page links to source code, documentation, and a security guide.

Spec sheet

What it does
Strix Disk Cleaner permanently erases entire drives using hardware sanitization where available or overwrite passes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · strix-tool.github.io
Purpose
Strix Disk Cleaner permanently wipes entire drives to NIST SP 800-88 and DoD 5220.22-M standards.Read 8 Oct 2026 · strix-tool.github.io
Intended users
The maker describes Strix Advanced Tools as open-source privacy and security tools made for people who care about privacy.Read 8 Oct 2026 · strix-tool.github.io
License
Source code is released under the MIT license.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Build provenance
The maker reports GitHub SLSA Build L2 provenance attestations alongside release checksums.Read 15 Oct 2026 · strix-tool.github.io
Code signing
The builds are not yet code-signed, so Windows SmartScreen may warn on first run.Read 8 Oct 2026 · strix-tool.github.io
Code-signing limit
Windows binaries are not yet code-signed and may trigger SmartScreen warnings.Read 15 Oct 2026 · strix-tool.github.io
Documentation
The repository includes README, Linux usage, Windows installation, security, signing, changelog and contribution documents.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Download verification
Each release publishes SHA-256 checksums for verifying downloaded files.Read 15 Oct 2026 · strix-tool.github.io
Erase methods
It uses hardware sanitize where possible or multi-pass overwrite.Read 8 Oct 2026 · strix-tool.github.io
Erasure limitation
Overwrite is described as reliable for HDD Clear-level erasure, while remapped or hidden flash areas may remain unreachable without hardware sanitize.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Hardware methods
Supported hardware paths include blkdiscard, nvme sanitize and ATA Secure Erase through hdparm.Read 15 Oct 2026 · strix-tool.github.io
Independent mirror hardening detail
The mirror documents absolute-path PowerShell elevation and offline SHA-256 verification as hardening measures.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.laiyagushi.com
Independent mirror security detail
A GitHub mirror's security page states that Windows protection checks boot/system flags, disk number, serial and size before every destructive step.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.laiyagushi.com
Independent mirror testing detail
The same mirror reports unit tests covering refusal of root, mounted and mounted-partition disks while allowing unmounted data or loopback devices.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.laiyagushi.com
Installation Linux
Ubuntu and Debian users install the supplied .deb package and run strixwipe from a terminal.Read 15 Oct 2026 · strix-tool.github.io
Installation Windows
Windows installation uses a setup wizard that creates Start-menu shortcuts and an uninstaller.Read 15 Oct 2026 · strix-tool.github.io
Linux edition
The Linux version is a unit-tested command-line eraser.Read 8 Oct 2026 · strix-tool.github.io
Linux interface
Linux ships strixwipe as a command-line eraser with unit-tested safety logic.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Maker funding
The about page describes a spare-time, zero-budget project with no paid tiers, subscriptions or advertising.Read 15 Oct 2026 · strix-tool.github.io
Maker identity
Strix Advanced Tools is described as an independent side project run by four computer-science students in Germany, with no company behind it.Read 15 Oct 2026 · strix-tool.github.io
Mounted-disk protection
Linux refuses disks with mounted partitions, including disks backing the root filesystem.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Offline operation
The maker states that the desktop tools make no network calls, use no telemetry and require no account.Read 15 Oct 2026 · strix-tool.github.io
Post-wipe actions
The Windows implementation can repartition, format and issue TRIM after erasure.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Privileges
Windows raw-disk access requires a UAC elevation, while Linux erase commands require root privileges.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Repository activity
GitHub lists the public repository with nine commits, five pull requests, zero issues, zero stars and zero forks when crawled.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Safety shield
The system disk and mounted disks cannot be selected, and destructive actions require typed confirmation.Read 8 Oct 2026 · strix-tool.github.io
Security hardening
The security policy specifies no shell execution, no dynamic code, argument-list process calls and cryptographic random data for overwrite passes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
SSD handling
It detects SSDs and recommends hardware sanitize because wear-levelling can make overwriting unreliable.Read 8 Oct 2026 · strix-tool.github.io
SSD warning
The documentation warns that flash wear levelling can leave data after overwriting and recommends hardware sanitize for SSDs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · strix-tool.github.io
Standards
The project targets NIST SP 800-88 and DoD 5220.22-M erasure standards.Read 15 Oct 2026 · strix-tool.github.io
Support and documentation
The product page links to the source code, documentation, and a security guide.Read 8 Oct 2026 · strix-tool.github.io
System-disk shield
A multilayer protection system hides the operating-system disk and prevents it from being selected.Read 15 Oct 2026 · strix-tool.github.io
Threat-model limit
The security page says the tools are not antivirus, EDR or a sandbox and cannot protect a compromised operating system.Read 15 Oct 2026 · strix-tool.github.io
TOCTOU defense
The target is rechecked immediately before writing so device renumbering cannot redirect the erase.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Topic classification
GitHub's NIST-800-88 topic directory lists the project as a PowerShell repository tagged for Windows, Linux, open source and secure erase.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Typed confirmation
Destructive operations require the device path and the word ERASE, with Linux additionally requiring --yes-really-erase.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Whole-drive scope
The product intentionally erases complete drives rather than individual files or folders.Read 15 Oct 2026 · strix-tool.github.io
Windows certificate
The Windows edition can produce a printable destruction certificate after wiping.Read 15 Oct 2026 · strix-tool.github.io
Windows edition
The Windows version provides a GUI and a printable destruction certificate.Read 8 Oct 2026 · strix-tool.github.io
Windows interface
Windows provides a WPF graphical application with SMART and hardware-capability detection.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

Free Free Free — open-source (MIT) Windows and Linux · offline operation · whole-drive erasure Read 15 Oct 2026 · strix-tool.github.io

Every Strix Disk Cleaner plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Works offline without an account.
  • Detects SSDs and recommends hardware sanitization.
  • Typed confirmation guards destructive actions.
  • Windows edition provides a printable certificate.
  • SHA-256 checksums accompany releases.

Limits

  • Erases whole drives, not individual files.
  • Windows SmartScreen may warn on first run.
  • Linux edition is command-line only.

Who it suits

It suits people who need to wipe whole drives offline on Windows or Linux, including SSDs. The Windows edition may suit users who want a printable destruction certificate; Linux users get a command-line tool.

Verdict

Strix Disk Cleaner focuses on whole-drive erasure, with safeguards and different interfaces for Windows and Linux. Note the whole-drive scope and the unsigned-build warning on Windows.

Where Specifiction places it

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