Free HDD space secure shredder ?

[thorsonb]

I'm looking for a free shredder program for my mac,

I read recely that when you delete files from the Trash bin it's not really deleted, OSX just "forgets" where it is.... wish sounds alot like windows to me.

I recently started to use this program Permanent Eraser which claims to do the 35 pass shred aka Gutmann and i like it..

but now what about the old files that OSX "forgotten the location" ? How do i get these shredded and removed forever!

I'm planning on giving my Mac to a friend, i know the OSX disc came with a shredder thingy, but that wipes the entire HDD, i'm giving my Mac with the software's i have installed to a friend.

Any suggestions on a OSX app, that can shred the free HDD space and also get rid of the "forgotten" files locations?

 

[Weaselboy]

Use the erase free space function in Disk Utility.

 

[AlphaDogg]

A hard drive is not just paper. You cannot "shred" it.

 

[Weaselboy]

A hard drive is not just paper. You cannot "shred" it.

I think you knew what he meant.

 

[thorsonb]

Use the erase free space function in Disk Utility.

Ohhhh I didnt see that there


uhmmm can you just give me a laymans guide on how to use it and not erase my files and/or software that are currently on my Mac ...

How does work anyways? Does it do like Defragmentation of the HDD first, and move files around, so the free space is one large section?
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[GGJstudios]

How does work anyways? Does it do like Defragmentation of the HDD first, and move files around, so the free space is one large section?

About disk optimization with Mac OS X

 

[Weaselboy]

Ohhhh I didnt see that there


uhmmm can you just give me a laymans guide on how to use it and not erase my files and/or software that are currently on my Mac ...

How does work anyways? Does it do like Defragmentation of the HDD first, and move files around, so the free space is one large section?
.
.

Just start Disk Utility and select the drive you want on the left, then click the erase tab. You will see the Erase Free Space button there. Click it and select which level of overwrite you want. This writes over free space with zeroes so it cannot be accessed. The more levels of overwrite you select the longer this will take. I don't believe it defrags or moves any files... it just overwrites space the file system shows and free.

 

[BaldiMac]

Rather than Permanent Eraser, you could have just used "Secure Empty Trash" from the Finder menu.

 

[thorsonb]

Rather than Permanent Eraser, you could have just used "Secure Empty Trash" from the Finder menu.

Apple enhanced its security by introducing the Secure Empty Trash feature, which follows the U.S. DoD pattern of overwriting data seven times.

Sorry 7 times might not just be enough for me

 

[Eddyisgreat]

A true, security minded friend would wipe the drive clean then restored with a fresh install , then any freeware/shareware/unmentionables.

Just saying. If you used the machine, you may have sensitive stuff dispersed all throughout the system, not just in your user space (desktop, documents folder etc).