Wiping out my data, permanently!

[zoran]

My Powerbook will be sold so i want to make certain that the new owner will not be able to get his hands on my data files if he tries to use a recovery application. What is the best way to make data i had on the power book to not be recoverable?

[edesignuk]

When you reinstall OS X and format your drive there is an option to basically secure erase the drive, I can't remember what they call it exactly. It will take a long time to format as it will overwrite the entire drive, not just bits that are used, but it will wipe out everything.

edit: ah, found it (http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/partitioning_tiger.html).

Go to Security Options and be as thorough as you like...

116717

(this is from Tiger, but it's practically the same in Leopard)

[KingYaba]

Open up Disk Utility. Select the Erase option. Click on the Erase Free Space button and start writing those zeros after you uninstalled the OS.