My hard drive contents - safe?

[julienko3]

I want to sell my MacBook. I would format the hard drive clean before I sell it, but I was wondering if it's possible to view the old, formatted contents. Could someone do this? Could a forensic scientist or someone who knows what they're doing?

Thanks.

 

[belvdr]

Yes, and easily with today's tools. You need to boot into the OS X install discs and wipe that drive using the Disk Utility in there.

 

[emt1]

One zero-pass should be plenty.

 

[belvdr]

Depending on who you are wanting to hide the data from...

 

[julienko3]

So I should do what BELVDR said, but there is still a risk that someone wants to get my data contents, can, and will?

 

[johto]

Yes. NSA, Russian KGB and Santa claus!

 

[Jack Flash]

Let's be honest. Do you have anything really worth hiding? Credit Cards? You've got fraud protection. Do a 7 pass wipe and be done with it.

 

[emt1]

Just do want I said and be done with it. One zero-pass is plenty.