Why and How to erase Mac drive?

When you delete a file, it gets transferred to trash and after deleting from trash, files get removed from the file system. Now, OS can write new information in the same physical area because it is marked as free space, it is a general concept. But, what do you think- has files been deleted permanently?

Answer is – No. Actually you can recover data by using any data recovery tool until OS doesn't overwrite data in drive. That is why, we should erase data permanently from Mac drive so that, one could not access data by unauthorized means. In this modern era, people and technology are very fast, your data can be used for illegal work. 

How to wipe data securely?

Disk Utility is an inbuilt Mac application, which helps Mac users to erase data permanently. Open Disk Utility from Application folder. Click the Erase tab and then click the Security Options button below, you’ll see four options—Don’t Erase Data, Zero Out Data, 7-Pass Erase, and 35-Pass Erase.

The Don’t Erase Data option—as its name implies—It doesn’t erase any data. Zero Out Data writes zeros over your drive one time however it does not meet government standards.

7-Pass Erase meets that US Department of Defence 5220-22 M standard, it writes over your data seven times. 35-Pass Erase option, which, as the name hints, writes junk over your drive 35 times. 7-pass option takes seven times longer to overwrite your data than does the Zero Out Data option. 

You can also erase data by using any third party tool. Stellar Mac wipe has the great ability to wipe Mac data beyond the recovery. You can wipe selected files, Internet activity, System traces, Instant Messaging, recent file histories, or your entire Mac hard drive. It includes Zeroes, DoD 5220.22-M, Pseudo Random, DoD 5200.28-STD, German Standard and Russian Standard.

This tool wipes free spaces, there are two option inside this tool – File wipe and Drive wipe. You can wipe either single hard drive or multiple drive. 

Conclusion- Wiping hard drive is an good idea to keep your data safe and secure. You can easily sell your hard drive after wiping.