Comments on: How-to Secure Erase Files from Your Hard Drive in OSX

By: Secure delete files on MAC and PC | Big Brother is Watching

Secure delete files on MAC and PC | Big Brother is Watching — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 03:42:59 +0000

[...] Tech Talk Point, a self proclaimed technology blog, details how to secure delete from your trash can, delete the entire hard drive, and why both are important to maintaining your security. It also warns that you will not be able to retrieve information you’ve secure deleted, which is the point. Below are two paragraphs taken from their article on secure deleting files in the trash can. As of 10.3, Apple made it easy to securely erase your data, and in 10.5 they made it even more easy. Basically, once you have moved whichever items you need to securely remove to your trash, via drag-and-drop or using the Finder “Move to Trash” keyboard shortcut: Apple Key + Delete, then select “Secure Empty Trash” from the File menu in the Finder. [...]

By: Spurs

Spurs — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:09:51 +0000

I am that caveman you hear about. Please advise on what happens to the library copies etc when you secue delete, or indeed on these machines files and footprints seem to appear in many parts of the computer system.

I have a mac os x 10.6.2

Thanks

By: tim

tim — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:48:39 +0000

guys,

I am using OSx 10.2 and have tried to follow your steps to delete all old data. the problem is when I choose the volume format, it doesn’t list HFS+ and doesn’t give me the option of how many times I want to overwrite the data.
HELP PLEASE!!!!

thanks,

tim

By: cali

cali — Mon, 11 May 2009 03:26:36 +0000

i bought a computer that was erased com[letly but the owner blocked any entrance with passwords how do i completely strip it and start over

By: Vincent

Vincent — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:23:57 +0000

Bill =

Per this doc on the Apple Web Site:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=diskutility/10.5/en/duh1010.html

You can use the disk utility to erase free disk space.

Be sure NOT to erase the entire drive :)

Best, Vincent =

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 14:03:53 +0000

Hi,

I deleted a bunch of files by just using “empty trash”. is there any way to go back and delete these files using “secure empty trash”

Best,
Bill

By: Vincent

Vincent — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:47:13 +0000

I would personally wipe the drive and install a fresh version of the OS, without actually setting it up with a login or anything. Let the new owner do that. Gives them that warm buzz kind of feeling when they do, despite having an old machine :) Best, Vincent =

By: Basil Croeser

Basil Croeser — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:27:46 +0000

Hi,

Thanks a bunch for your clear and easy to understand instructions.

Having just replaced my G5 desktop with the latest 24″ stunner and erased all the data on the old mac how do I now remove my name from its login window before selling it on?

Kind regards,

Basil.