Properly erasing a hard disk in Mac OS X

Discussion in 'Mac Apps and Mac App Store' started by Dunepilot, Nov 3, 2006.

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  1. Dunepilot, Nov 3, 2006

    Dunepilot macrumors 6502a

    Dunepilot

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2002
    Location:
    UK
    #1
    Hi guys,

    Does anyone know if there's an application for the Mac that allows you to do a proper, successful, unrecoverable erase of a hard disk?

    I know there are commercial applications for Windows that do several writes over the hard disk using random information to make sure that no personal information is recoverable (and there even seem to be companies that specialise in doing this), but I've not heard of any Mac utility that does the same thing, i.e. not just an erase, but a proper multiple write-over erase.

    Any thoughts would be great.
    Thanks
    Dune
     
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  2. Mitthrawnuruodo, Nov 3, 2006

    Mitthrawnuruodo Moderator emeritus

    Mitthrawnuruodo

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2004
    Location:
    Bergen, Norway
    #2
    Disk Utility.

    Can write zeroes, or do a 7 pass or 35 pass erase (good luck with that one if you haven't got all weekend... ;)).

    [Link]
     
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  3. livingfortoday, Nov 3, 2006

    livingfortoday macrumors 68030

    Joined:
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    Location:
    The Msp
    #3
    Disk Utility is all you need, and it's on your Mac already!

    Go under Applications>Utilities>Disk Utility. Click on the disk you want to erase on the left, choose "Erase" on the right side, and then choose "Security Options...". It will give you the choice of a regular erase, a 1-Pass zero-out erase, a 7-pass, and the completely insane and unnecessary 35-Pass. That will pretty much make anything unrecoverable.

    Edit: Beaten to it by a matter of seconds! ;)
     
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  4. Dunepilot, Nov 3, 2006

    Dunepilot thread starter macrumors 6502a

    Dunepilot

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2002
    Location:
    UK
    #4
    Thanks very much.

    Apple should market this better - and maybe have a really simple interface for DU for anyone about to dispose of their mac who wants a maximum security disposal option. This is something people are going to be getting more interested in as identity theft increases.
     
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  5. besttricker, Jun 13, 2008

    besttricker macrumors newbie

    Joined:
    May 21, 2008
    #5
    Yes there is lots of application over internet to erase MAC hard drive. I have been faced this problem. I have searched over net and got a software Stellar phoenix drive wipe software which completely erased by HDD. You can also try this.

    Hope it helps
     
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