Need to delete private data - urgent help needed

[bastet]

Hi. I need to return company Macbook Air and I want to be sure all my private data are permamently deleted and unrecoverable. I know it is not enough to simply delete them, so please, can someone suggest a more secure way? Should I format my Air and if so, how can I do it?
This is quite urgent, please anyone respond quickly!
Thanks a lot.

[NC MacGuy]

bootup from external usb/dvd open disk utilities and do a secure delete 7 pass and wait for a good day.

[johnrs]

What you can do is when your personal data has been removed is go into Disk Utility and select your disk and then under the erase tab change the Security options and then when you have selected the right erase option you can then simply erase free space

Hope that helps

[jessica.]

A zero out would do as well unless you work for a data recovery company, unless you were fired for cause, or unless you had some stuff on that machine that could really toast your ass.

[bastet]

Thanks, everybody. Personally, I would opt for 35 pass, but it's just me being paranoid. Actually, I'm leaving of my own free choice, but I did have some data on the machine that would make some people's days... ;) Never mind, I believe this helps. Fortunately, my company is Mac illiterate (I had the only one being the only one who can use it :)), so I can live peacefully in hope. I hope...

[stoconnell]

Another option would be to set up file vault on your current account, create a new admin level account, then log out as current account, and use new account to delete the old account and home dir (which is now one single encrypted blob).