roten@my-precise:~$ sudo hdparm -I /dev/sdb
...
Security:
    Master password revision code = 65534
        supported
    not    enabled
    not    locked
    not    frozen
    not    expired: security count
    not    supported: enhanced erase
    88min for SECURITY ERASE UNIT.
Logical Unit WWN Device Identifier: 50000391f340058c
    NAA        : 5
    IEEE OUI    : 000039
    Unique ID    : 1f340058c
Checksum: correct
roten@my-precise:~$ sudo hdparm --user-master u --security-set-pass Eins /dev/sdb security_password="Eins"

/dev/sdb:
 Issuing SECURITY_SET_PASS command, password="Eins", user=user, mode=high
roten@my-precise:~$ sudo hdparm -I /dev/sdb
...
Security:
    Master password revision code = 65534
        supported
        enabled
    not    locked
    not    frozen
    not    expired: security count
    not    supported: enhanced erase
    Security level high
    88min for SECURITY ERASE UNIT.
Logical Unit WWN Device Identifier: 50000391f340058c
    NAA        : 5
    IEEE OUI    : 000039
    Unique ID    : 1f340058c
Checksum: correct
roten@my-precise:~$ sudo time hdparm --user-master u --security-erase Eins /dev/sdb security_password="Eins"

/dev/sdb:
 Issuing SECURITY_ERASE command, password="Eins", user=user
0.00user 0.00system 1:11:03elapsed 0%CPU (0avgtext+0avgdata 2432maxresident)k
0inputs+0outputs (0major+200minor)pagefaults 0swaps
...
Security:
    Master password revision code = 65534
        supported
    not    enabled
    not    locked
    not    frozen
    not    expired: security count
    not    supported: enhanced erase
    88min for SECURITY ERASE UNIT.
Logical Unit WWN Device Identifier: 50000391f340058c
    NAA        : 5
    IEEE OUI    : 000039
    Unique ID    : 1f340058c
Checksum: correct
roten@my-precise:~$ sudo time xxd -a /dev/sdb
[sudo] password for roten:
0000000: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
1000000000000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
2000000000000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
3000000000000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000  ................
54272.57user 343.93system 15:10:36elapsed 99%CPU (0avgtext+0avgdata 2096maxresident)k
488398400inputs+0outputs (0major+179minor)pagefaults 0swaps
roten@my-precise:~$