• The best way to securely erase an SSD is to invoke the controller's built-in secure-erase feature. This should—if the controller designers did their jobs—truly erase all blocks, and also have.
• Jul 12, 2018 With an SSD drive, Secure Erase and Erasing Free Space are not available in Disk Utility. These options are not needed for an SSD drive because a standard erase makes it difficult to recover data.

• Secure Erase Free Space
• Erase Free Space Windows
• Erase Free Space Windows
• How To Wipe A Mac Hard Drive
• How To Free Up Space On Mac

If you’re selling an old Mac, a spare hard drive, or you’re just quite paranoid about your deleted data, you’re either familiar with—or should be familiar with—the Erase Free Space button on the Erase tab in Disk Utility (found in your Applications -> Utilities folder).

When you click this button, you’re presented with three options for securely erasing the free space on your hard drive: write over the free space with zeros (fast and relatively safe), write over the free space three times (more secure, very slow), or write over the free space seven times (extremely slow).

I use this feature whenever I sell an old machine. First I format the drive and install a fresh copy of macOS, then I use Disk Utility to erase the free space (typically the one-time write-with-zeros option). This gives me a good sense of security, as it would take a team of dedicated professionals, and possibly special hardware, to have some chance of recovering any of my deleted data—though I really only care about a few financial files, and those are kept on an encrypted disk image, so they’re probably safe anyway.

Use Terminal to securely erase a drive

What if you want to do this from Terminal instead? In Terminal, a program named diskutil provides most of the features of macOS’s Disk Utility.

Dec 11, 2017 If your Mac comes with an SSD, Apple’s Disk Utility won’t let you to securely erase the SSD. Yes, Secure Erase and Erasing Free Space options are not available in Mac Disk Utility. People say these options are not required for an SSD since a standard erase itself is enough potential to make SSD data recovery hard.

(Please note that, as with many Terminal commands, there’s a chance of Really Bad Things happening if you make a mistake with the following instructions. Proceed with caution, and make sure your backups are current before you try any of the following.)

To find out about diskutil in detail, type man diskutil at the Terminal prompt. Within the man pages, you’ll find the explanation for how to securely erase a disk’s free space using diskutil:

But how do you figure out what to list for device, which is the disk (or partition) that has the free space you’re trying to securely erase? diskutil can provide that information, too. Just use diskutil list to see a list of all drives and partitions. On the far right, you’ll see an IDENTIFIER column; that column contains the identifier that diskutil needs. Here’s an example of the list output on my machine:

There’s just one last bit of information you need to know to erase the free space on a drive from the command line. In Unix, all devices appear as part of the file system tree, and in macOS, they’re all listed in the /dev directory. So if I want to use diskutil to erase the free space on my Apple_HFS Untitled volume on my external drive, using the single-pass method, the final command would look like this:

diskutil secureErase freespace 1 /dev/disk2s1

Warning! It’s critically important that you include the freespace portion of that command. If you don’t, diskutil will happily start securely erasing the entire disk, instead of just the free space! Yes, that’s a Really Bad Thing, especially because it will be securely erased, meaning there’s no chance you’ll be able to recover the data.

Source link

Securely Erase Data on the Mac permanently.
The #1 Data Eraser App for macOS.

iShredder™ is the most popular data eraser for iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and Windows Server. Since 2010, this secure deletion software has won numerous awards and is used by more than 4,000,000 users, in over 100 countries worldwide.
iShredder™ uses data shredding techniques that go beyond international standards. Its data deletion is so secure that government agencies and defense ministries trust, and use this robust process.

The new generation iShredder™ Mac® is a professional app that allows for secure deletion of data from hard drives and external data storage devices on macOS®.

The software meets and exceeds government, military, and industry standards for the permanent erasure of digital information.
It erases all existing data up to top-secret security level data. And it enables users to efficiently delete their data in such a way as to preclude reconstruction, even by government agencies.

Depending on the edition, iShredder™ Mac® comes with secure deletion algorithms such as DoD 5220.22-ME, US Air Force (AFSSI-5020), US Army AR380-19, DoD 5220.22-M ECE, BSI/VS-ITR TL-03423, BSI-2011-VS, CSEC ITSG-06, NATO Standard, Gutmann, HMG InfoSec No.5, DoD 5220.22 SSD and others.

Each algorithm has been analyzed by authorities and independent organizations to make sure it does what it says on the tin – data destruction beyond redemption.

In a sector where trust and security are primary concerns, Protectstar™ provides his customers with only modern and first-class products. iShredder™ Mac® offers more than twenty secure deletion methods certified by the government and military organizations.

Erasure Algorithm:

• 50 Cycles: Protectstar SDA (2007)
• 35 Cycles: Gutmann method
• 8 Cycles: German BSI TL-03423
• 7 Cycles: NATO Standard
• 7 Cycles: DoD 5220.22-M ECE
• 7 Cycles: CANADIAN RCMP TSSIT OPS-II
• 5 Cycles: BSI-2011-VS
• 4 Cycles: Protectstar ASDA (2017)
• 4 Cycles: DoD 5220.22-M E for SSD
• 3 Cycles: Canadian CSEC ITSG-06
• 3 Cycles: HMG Nr. 5 extended
• 3 Cycles: AFSSI-5020
• 3 Cycles: NAVO P-5239-26 (MFM)
• 3 Cycles: NAVO P-5239-26 (RLL)
• 3 Cycles: US Army AR380-19
• 3 Cycles: DoD 5220.22-M E
• 3 Cycles: NCSC-TG-025
• 3 Cycles: NIST SP 800-88
• 2 Cycles: RUSSIAN GOST R 50739-95
• 1 Cycle: Australian ISM 6.2.92
• 1 Cycle: 0XFF for SSD
• 1 Cycle: Random Values
• 1 Cycle: NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 1 (2014)

Specifically developed by Protectstar™ Inc. in 2007 it runs through fifty erasure routines.
Data will be overwritten for two times with a random value, afterwards with their complements. It includes and the DoD 5220.22-M (E) standard and Peter Gutmann method and random algorithms.

The algorithm from Peter Gutmann was found in 1996 and makes 35 overwrite passes in total.
This algorithm is one of the state-of-the-art methods for data destruction.

In March 2010 the German Federal office for IT Security (BSI) published a new technical BSI Guideline for 'Requirements to overwrite memory media'.
The method is similar to VSITR standard for magnetic storage media.
In total the new algorithm has 8 cycles, which has to be worked through in chronological order. Includes one cycle of verification.

The NATO method is the deletion standard of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
It will overwrite the target data area 7 times.
The first six overwrites are with the fixed values (0x00) and (0xff), alternating between passes.
The 7th overwrite is with a random value i.e. 0x00,0xFF,0x00,0xFF,0x00,0xFF and 7th pass with a random value.

The method for high security is based on the January 1995 'National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual'by the Department of Defense (DoD).
In this seven cycle variation (DoD 5220.22-M ECE), data is first overwritten three times with DoD 5220.22-M (E) Standards, then with a specific random value, and finally once again with DoD 5220.22-M (E).

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Standard RCMP TSSIT OPS-II overwrites data securely with alternating sequences with a total of seven cycles.

The German Federal office for IT Security (BSI) describes in the technical BSI guideline for 'Requirements to overwrite memory media' from July 2010 the modern method BSI-2011.
This clause includes 5 steps, which is implemented in sequential order.

The Advanced Secure Deletion Algorithm developed by Protectstar™ in 2017 includes a pass that encrypts the blocks completely using the 256-bit AES doing a complete verification of written data.
The last pass wipes all data through a random pattern, while high-quality random numbers are generated based on Federal information processing standards (FIPS).

This method is specially developed for SSD (Solid State Drive) and flash memory, based on the U.S.
Department of Defense's standard DoD 5220.22-M E. It will overwrite data four times.

The Canadian CSEC ITSG-06 sanitization method has three cycles and was published in 2006 by Communication Security Establishment Canada (CSEC).

The HMG Infosec Standard No 5 - enhanced level is approved to wipe UK Government Top Secret data and has also been approved by NATO.
The algorithm is a three pass overwriting algorithm: first pass - with zeros (0), second and third passes with its compliment and random values(with last pass verification).

The AFSSI-5020 sanitization method was originally defined in the Air Force System Security Instruction 5020 by the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1996 and may still be today.

This is the US Navy standard NAVSO P-5239-26 for MFM encoded drives.
This deletion method first writes the fixed value (0xffffffff) to the target data area, then the fixed value (0xbfffffff) and then random values.
Finally, the target data area is read to verify the overwrites.

This is the US Navy standard NAVSO P-5239-26 for RLL encoded drives.
This deletion method first writes the fixed value (0xffffffff) to the target data area, then the fixed value (0x27ffffff) and then random values.
Finally, the target data area is read to verify the overwrites.

AR380-19 is the data shredding algorithm specified and published by the U.S. Army.
The algorithm is a three pass overwriting algorithm: first pass - with random bytes, second and third passes with certain bytes and with its compliment (with last pass verification).

The method for low security but for high execution speed is based on the January 1995 'National Industry Security Program Operating Manual' from the DoD (US DoD 5220.22-M).
The variation (DoD 5220.22-M E) offers 3 cycles in which the data are overwritten with first a set value, then its compliment, and then a random value.

The American NCSC-TG-025 standard of the National Computer Security Center (NCSC) securely overwrites existing information on a data medium three times.

The in 2006 released standard is the Special Publication 800-88 from NIST, which is the go-to data erasure standard for organizations in the United States. Its principles can apply to magnetic, flash-based, and other storage technologies, from USB drives to servers.

The Russian data deletion standard GOST R 50739-95 for secure data erasure overwrites the target data are two tome. In the first pass with a zero, and in the second pass with random characters.

ISM 6.2.92 is the Australian government's data sanitization standard.
The method was originally defined in the Information Security Manual (ISM) issued by the Australian Department of Defense: Intelligence & Security.
The ISM 6.2.92 sanitization can not be used to sanitize classified information.

This method is specially developed for SSD (Solid State Drive) and flash memory.
It offers one cycle which data are overwritten by the pattern '0xFF'.

This method for lowest security but for very high execution on speed. It offers only one cycle which data are overwritten with random values.

In December 2014, the guidelines were revised, making the current version “NIST Special Publication 800-88 Rev. 1”.

See here the description of the method you have selected.

iShredder™ Mac® offering a high level of user-friendliness.
With the intuitive drag & drop navigation, users can completely delete data from their hard drives or external data storage devices.

Drag & Drop files, folders, hard drives, or even external devices to the drag & drop area and securely erase it with just a push of the shred button.

Securely wipe the free space using patented security standards, making it impossible to recover any deleted data.

When you delete a file or a photo, the operation system removes the reference to that data but doesn’t eliminate the actual data on your memory. It just only marked as free so that another file can come and use those blocks.

With the award-winning free space erase option in iShredder™ Mac® you can wipe the unused disk space securely so that deleted data cannot be recovered.

iShredder™ Mac’s heart has an innovative search algorithm to detect and effectively clean up useless temporary junk data, caches, log files, and macOS snapshots.

With just a push of a button, iShredder™ Mac not only brings back valuable storage space to your Macbook, Mac mini or iMac, but it also ensures a performance tuning. It ensures that the files that contain fragments of your data are erased.

International Security Standards

iShredder™ surpasses international standards used by state and military organizations in secure file deletion with a wide selection of tried-and-trusted state-of-the-art deletion algorithms. Each algorithm has been analyzed by authorities and independent organizations to make sure it really does what it says on the tin – data destruction beyond redemption.
iShredder™ comes with deletion algorithms such as DoD 5220.22-M E, US Air Force (AFSSI-5020), US Army AR380-19, BSI-2011-VS, DoD 5220.22-M ECE, BSI/VS-ITR TL-03423, CSEC ITSG-06, NATO Standard, Gutmann, HMG InfoSec No.5, DoD 5220.22 SSD and others.

GDPR-compliant data erasure

With the latest European General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR), new requirements for the secure deletion of data have arrived, which applies to all companies.
If sensitive information falls into the wrong hands, this can result in a serious loss of revenue, penalties, or damage to reputation. In addition to the GDPR Art.17 'Right to erasure (‘right to be forgotten’)', please see article: https://gdpr-info.eu/art-17-gdpr/ - data protection laws prescribe a thoroughly documented destruction of data. Personal data is no longer required, for which there is no legal basis for long-term storage, and must be permanently and securely removed from the IT systems.
iShredder™ offers all possibilities for complete protection of sensitive information, and GDPR-compliant data deletion, including detailed erasure reports.

Supported Operating Systems for Software

• Mac OS 10.11 or higher (OS X El Capitan, macOS Sierra, macOS High Sierra, macOS Mojave, macOS Catalina, macOS Big Sur)

Secure Erase Free Space

Minimal Hardware Requirements

• Minimal system requirements of the operation system
• 50 MB free hard drive space
• Internet connection for updates and activation

Languages

Erase Free Space Windows

• English, German

Erase Free Space Windows

Professional

How To Wipe A Mac Hard Drive

• Compatible with all models of MacBook, MacBook Air, Macbook Pro, iMac, iMac Pro and Mac Pro
• Secure data deletion up to the top secret security standard level
• Deletion algorithms like DoD 5220.22-M ECE, Peter Gutmann, DoD 5220.22-M, HMG Infosec No.5, German BSI-2011-VS, US Army AR380-19 and more
• Detailed erasure report provides evidence of deletion
• Compatible with Solid State Drives (SSD) and Flash memory
• Full Drag & Drop support
• Erasing methods in total (11)
• incl. 1 year technical support and free upgrades
• 24/7 Support by e-Mail

How To Free Up Space On Mac

Military

• Compatible with all models of MacBook, MacBook Air, Macbook Pro, iMac, iMac Pro and Mac Pro
• Secure data deletion up to the top secret security standard level
• Deletion algorithms like DoD 5220.22-M ECE, Peter Gutmann, DoD 5220.22-M, HMG Infosec No.5, German BSI-2011-VS, US Army AR380-19 and more
• Detailed erasure report provides evidence of deletion
• Compatible with Solid State Drives (SSD) and Flash memory
• Full Drag & Drop support
• Advanced deletion reports
• Enhanced military deletion methods like NATO standard, US Navy NAVSO P-5239-26 (MFM & RLL), USAF AFSSI-5020, BSI TL-03423 and CSEC ITSG-06
• Erasing methods in total (21)
• incl. 1 year technical support and free upgrades
• 24/7 Support by e-Mail