Erasing Free Space on Hard Drives in Mac OS X
This option is not available for flash-memory based SSD models (like those bundled within the MacBook Air, Retina MacBook Pro) because those drives use the TRIM function to quickly remove and recover blocks instead, which has the side effect of automatically preventing file recovery fairly quickly – often within 10 minutes of emptying the Trash. This only works on traditional hard drives of the spinning platter variety, which is typical for MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, and iMac models, and is the case with most external hard drives used for backups. I'm sorry if I came across wrong.The Mac OS X Disk Utility app provides an ability to erase free space on traditional hard drives, which overwrites vacant disk space on the drive to prevent any potential recovery of deleted files (that is, files that have been removed traditionally, rather than through secure methods). So I may come across as an idiot, but I spent about 25 years of my life preaching the Wonders of Apple to anybody that I met. So I went from "Mac Pro" to "Lost in Wonderland" having missed out on about eight years of Apple technology.
Now a couple of weeks ago I got a mid 2010 MacBook Pro which is the one that I'm trying to get a handle on. I haven't had Macs until in March I bought a mid 2007 MacBook on eBay and a nice eBayer that was selling USB Lion updaters sent me a free one (That was the max OS for that Book). I have since been living in nursing homes, still on a lot of narcotics (But not IV.) and receiving $30.00 a month. I lost my house and everything in it (Including all my Macs). For a couple of years I was in intense pain and they were giving me IV narcotics (It seemed like every time that I asked for them) and I didn't know who or where I was. In around May or June 2010, I think, (I had just gotten a pre-release copy of Lion through ADC to help them as a Guinea Pig using an OS that wasn't ready for release, which I never even got a chance to install.) I got a spinal abscess that resulted in paraplegia. I used to come around here a lot and help people with their problems.
I did a lot of modifications (Adding HD's, changing processors, etc.) In OS 7 thru 9 I used to play around with modifying the system software (Changing/adding functionality and stuff). I had a collection of Macs and always had at least three or four set up and running around the house. I was really tech savvy and knew Macs inside and out until about early 2010. I think that you need to understand my situation. I thought that I had expressed myself clearly but I guess that I had not. Now you say that this is not a true statement?Ģ) Data that is encrypted using "File Vault" and then is deleted by putting it in the trash and then emptying the trash will not allow it to be resurrected using the most diligent means? It too is gone in Sierra.įor more information please read Use FileVault to encrypt the startup disk on your Mac - Apple Support.ġ) Apple claimed that "Secure Empty Trash" deleted the material to a degree that it couldn't be resurrected through the most diligent means. Apple retained srm in El Capitan, probably to placate users who chose to retain their illusions regarding secure data deletion for a little while longer.
To ensure your data remains secure throughout that period of time, use FileVault: macOS Sierra: Encrypt the contents of your Mac with FileVault.ĭon't be misled into believing some third party product is capable of securely erasing unencrypted data either. Data doesn't suddenly become sensitive just before a user decides to erase it it's sensitive the moment it is created and ought to be treated that way for as long as it exists. The only way to ensure data security from its creation through its destruction and all states between those two is to encrypt it. There are other reasons in addition to those, none of which are unique to the Mac. The introduction of solid state (flash) memory rendered the feature completely pointless. There are many reasons Apple removed that feature, not the least of which it was never capable of ensuring secure data destruction with complete effectiveness, even with magnetic media. "Secure Empty Trash" is gone, for good reason.