Write Zeros on Empty Space

[Xephian]

Is there any program that is capable of doing this? I know that there is CyberScrub for Windows that does this but do not know one for OS X.

 

[grapes911]

I don't know of a program, but what benefit do you get out of zeroing out all unused space?

 

[generik]

I believe you can get it done using Disk Utils (part of OSX)

He probably deleted some files that he wants to be gone forever 😀

 

[grapes911]

In that case, you can use the secure empty trash. I'm pretty sure disk utiltiy can only zero out data when formatting.

 

[NYmacAttack]

The secure empty trash will overwrite the file several times so it is not recoverable. If you use the disk utility to fully format the drive, there are several options for securly wiping the drive.

 

[ortuno2k]

You can write zeros to the hard drive as many as 35 times when you format it using the Disk Utility included with the OS.

 

[Xephian]

You can write zeros to the hard drive as many as 35 times when you format it using the Disk Utility included with the OS.

But I only wanted to write it on unused space so I will not lose any data.

 

[mrichmon]

But I only wanted to write it on unused space so I will not lose any data.

A quick google turns up Trash X.

 

[sushi]

But I only wanted to write it on unused space so I will not lose any data.

As someone already mentioned above, when you empty your trash can use Secure Empty Trash under the Finder's Finder menu.

Sushi

 

[cjc343]

You can use Disk Utility. I don't remember when they added the function, but in 10.4, if you open disk utility, and select the PARTITION of the disk that you want to Zero-out free space on (The partition is the child option that has the same name as the disk on your desktop: most likely "Macintosh HD"). Click on the Erase tab, and near the lower left, there will be a button to "Erase Free Space..." which, when you click it, gives you the option to 0-out all data, run a 7-pass erase, or run a 35-pass erase.

 

[generik]

By the way if you turn on Filevault (there is this icon of a house that looks like a safe) and encrypted page file you can just do away with this altogether.

Don't do it on a PB though, the performance penalty is quite significant.