Re: deleting content of /tmp

["Jorge Peixoto de Morais Neto" <please.no.spam.here@gmail.com>]

Can someone advise me on the pros and cons of deleting the contents of
/tmp/ as part of general security conscious non-paranoia. I was thinking
that it would be an okay thing to do periodically (or at logout, etc.)
using a overwriting/shredding program. But, before I committed myself,
decided it was prudent to ask.

From the FHS:
tmp : Temporary files

Purpose

The /tmp directory must be made available for programs that require temporary
files.

Programs must not assume that any files or directories in /tmp are preserved
between invocations of the program.

    Rationale: IEEE standard P1003.2 (POSIX, part 2) makes requirements that
    are similar to the above section.

    Although data stored in /tmp may be deleted in a site-specific manner, it
    is recommended that files and directories located in /tmp be deleted
    whenever the system is booted.

    FHS added this recommendation on the basis of historical precedent and
    common practice, but did not make it a requirement because system
    administration is not within the scope of this standard.

So it is safe to delete /tmp when you know that no running programs are using any file there. You can delete /tmp in the beginning of the boot process, as the FHS itself suggests. I think this already happens automatically on Debian, but I'm not sure.
-- 
Software is like sex: it is better when it is free.