10.5.2 Disk Utility, erasing HD, is zero out data secure enough?

[MythicFrost]

Hey,

I'm erasing some partitions on a Mac that's leaving my possession, is Zero Out Data secure enough? To erase everything?

 

[emiljan]

Depending on what you have on there i would suggest you try the three pass wipe option as its more secure.

If your really paranoid you can try the 7-pass wipe but it will take a couple of days depending on how big your harddrive is.

 

[MythicFrost]

Depending on what you have on there i would suggest you try the three pass wipe option as its more secure.

If your really paranoid you can try the 7-pass wipe but it will take a couple of days depending on how big your harddrive is.

Can I just run the zero out data three times? I didn't see a three pass option, only 7 and 35.

 

[BiggAW]

It depends on what you're trying to protect. If you are protecting extremely critical information, throw the drive in a PC and run DBAN on it...

 

[MythicFrost]

It depends on what you're trying to protect. If you are protecting extremely critical information, throw the drive in a PC and run DBAN on it...

I wouldn't say extremely critical information, but it is private business related information. Three runs zero out data runs should be enough though right?

Does Zero Out Data write 0's to everything? to remove data that has been deleted but not erased from the OS as well?

 

[ouimetnick]

Well unless the person receiving your Mac is a hacker, your data is probably safe after a Zero out data operation. But yes, DBAN is very secure, but it took 2 days for my 80GB HD.

 

[MythicFrost]

Well unless the person receiving your Mac is a hacker, your data is probably safe after a Zero out data operation. But yes, DBAN is very secure, but it took 2 days for my 80GB HD.

It should be fine... but DUDE? How many loops is that? 35?!?!