Questions tagged [secure-erase]
The secure-erase tag has no usage guidance.
62
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Securely delete a file in MacOS
I have a file containing a private key that I want to securely delete.
Several sites as well as Claude suggest using rm -P but the man page of rm says:
This flag has no effect.
There was also a ...
- 209
6
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1
answer
457
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How to quickly factory reset an iPhone
Let's assume I'm working/living in a potentially hostile environment and want to minimize the risk that somebody can access the data stored on my iPhone. The recommended way is to force-lock the phone ...
2
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1
answer
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Can secure erase be interrupted?
Does it trash the disk if I interrupt the secure erase option of Disk Utility?
There's nothing on the disk to hide, so I don't want to waste time, but if I triggered it accidentally — blame the cat :-)...
- 5,130
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2
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944
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ATA Secure Erase of external SSD
I have an external SSD I would like to delete with ATA Secure Erase. I don't want to overwrite it with 0s or random bits. Can I do this with macOS (13.0.1) on my MacBook Air M1 or more generally on ...
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Can one erase all content and settings from command line using sudo?
I am planning on provisining enterprise Macs using DEP/MDM and looking for a way to allow non-admin user to initiate wiping computer.
Possible from command line using sudo? Perhaps there is another ...
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42
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Completely deleting MacBook Pro hard drive and upgrade to latest OS version
I have a High Sierra (10.13.6) MacBook Pro that I purchased back in 2016. Man its been a great machine!
Unfortunately I have beat the heck out of it and made so many systems level changes that its ...
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2
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245
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How to TurnOn FileVault for (Macintosh HD - Data) while it is already On for (Macintosh HD)
I saw on the Apple documents on their website ( Here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210650 ) that Macintosh HD is read-only volume called maybe "startup disk" for system files and user ...
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how can you completely format the ssd disk and erase data in the MacBook - after cyberattack
Unfortunately, I had a cyber attack that took control of my browser, running background processes on my laptop. I have already Erased All Contents and Settings with these steps:
Open System ...
user455027
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0
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314
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Why does data remain after disk erase and factory reset - macOS Monterey
I've tried to erase and factory reset my MacBook, using Erase All Content and Settings in System Preferences. However, after completing the operation, and configuring the MacBook again, I can find the ...
user455027
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1
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How to wipe Apple hardware to NIST "PURGE" standard?
I have a bunch of apple hardware at work that is to be destroyed, because the security guys claim it can't be wiped to NIST PURGE compliance.
All the PC hardware can achieve this level, and we have a ...
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894
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Secure Erasing Internal SSDs Using File Vault
I am the "middleman" in an effort to collect old, unused Apple devices from seniors living in an aging-in-place community. My intention is to collect their devices, wipe them clean, then ...
- 587
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2
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173
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Wipe free space on external SSD
I bought an external SSD which is not working fine with my new Macbook Air running under Monterey. I wanted to erase the Disk securely before sending it back but I just noticed that it's not possible ...
- 159
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1
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1k
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Erase content on sold phone
I sold my phone to a friend. He need to erase content so he can use phone. I don't know if I gave him the correct password. If I change my apple password on my new phone will he be able to use it on ...
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Erased the disk with TRIM disabled and enabled it afterwards, will my previous data still be trimmed?
I owned a MacBook Pro with an original Apple-certified SSD. I erased my entire disk (using the erase option in disk utility) with TRIM disabled, then reinstalled the Mac OS and enabled it as soon as ...
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Securely deleting data in iOS
My understanding is that resetting an iOS device by using Erase all Content and Settings is considered secure deleting, as the key for the encryption is obliterated and no data can be recovered.
Just ...
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As I plan to sell my iPhone, Will Reset > Delete Data and Settings, prevent recovering my Data?
In Windows I know that when you delete a file or even format your PC, then some data can still be recovered from the hard disk using some tools.
Now I have iPhone 11 and I am planning to sell it. So I ...
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Can I recall (cancel) the erase my iPhone command [duplicate]
I had lost my iPhone, and I initiated the erase iPhone using iCloud. But, in the meanwhile, I found the iPhone. I am holding it in airplane mode, and it is still not wiped. I'm aware that if I turn on ...
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If I sell my iPad, is erase/reset enough or do I need to sign-out first?
I gave my iPad to someone else, I used the erase function and when I turn it on it shows as default, to select language and connect to a wifi, etc.
But the apple article page about this, says to use ...
- 1,249
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1
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91
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Wipe iPhone data
Is it possible to completely wipe out iPhone data using dd tool? Something like this?
sudo dd if=/dev/random of=/...
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2
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2
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323
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Secure empty trash on external drive OSX
I’ve got an internal SSD on a 2018 MBP, with these drives macOS no longer gives you the option to secure erase the trash.
I’ve connected an older HDD external drive which I wish to secure erase the ...
- 3,915
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1
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63
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Format disk in mac with a lot of reading and writing [duplicate]
What I want to do is Format my SSD disk of my Mac Book Pro (2019), but I want to do it in a VERY safe way. So that there is no trace of the deleted files and nobody can access them anymore.
That's why ...
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0
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Erasing Apple products, how secure? [duplicate]
I am in the process of getting rid of some old Apple products:
Late 2009 iMac
iPad 2 (2012)
iPhone 4 (2011)
I've reset my iPad 2 using the feature in the preferences, to erase all content and ...
user206728
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1
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12k
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How to delete macOS Installer boot
I tried to install a macOS High Sierra update, but I got the error "An error occurred installing macOS" and thus I decided to erase the Installer.app and dmg on my drive. Now every time I close my Mac ...
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1
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950
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Securely Deleting Text Messages from iPhone?
I was under the impression that you can't recover "deleted files" from iPhones and their encrypted storage memory the same way you can from a computer.
But after doing some research, there seems to ...
- 1,785
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0
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84
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Apple iPhone 6 retaining personal information after Erase All Content and Settings
I have an iPhone 6 that I am giving to a family member as I upgraded my phone.
I "Wiped" all my data with Erase All Content and Settings however it is still retaining information such as my full name ...
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1
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1k
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How to securely wipe all data from iOS device prior to sale [closed]
Ive got a couple of iPads that i no longer use that i wish to sell on eBay.
They run a range of iOS versions from iOS 9-12
What steps should i take to make sure that data, passwords, photos, ...
- 3,915
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2
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6k
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How to securely `shred` a file in APFS? (macOS Mojave and newer)
I just came across this thread about securely deleting files:
If, by stroke of misfortune, you're on a magnetic medium, have
journalling disabled and, for some reason, can't encrypt the disk,
you're ...
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1
answer
28k
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Does a "Hello" screen mean my iPhone was erased?
I'm preparing to ship my old iPhone 6 to a new home. When I press and hold the lock button, a white screen saying "Hello" in various languages appears. Does that mean I erased all of my data? I haven'...
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3
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How I can make rm to single pass secure delete items in macOS?
According to the rm man page rm -P ... overwrites items three times to delete them securely:
-P Overwrite regular files before deleting them. Files are
overwritten ...
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0
answers
2k
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All data easily recoverable after Disk Utility erase on 3rd party SSD?
It's come to the time to upgrade and therefore sell my old laptop. Its a mid-2012 13″ MacBook Pro with an Intel Core i5 and 4GB RAM. Originally it came with a 500GB hard drive but I have upgraded this ...
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7
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6k
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If I delete photos/files why aren't they actually deleted? How come they can be recovered?
I am trying to delete some photos from my daughter's Photos Library/Hard Drive. What I have done so far is that I have moved the photos to the trash and emptied it.
Now the problem is, deleted files/...
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How to securely erase Apple NVME SSD?
I just got one of the new 12-inch MacBooks and would like to wipe the storage drive. With a conventional SATA drive I'd use the "ATA Secure Erase" command which can be sent from a Linux environment ...
- 441
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1
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662
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How do I perform a standard erase on MacBook Pro Retina SSD?
An archived Apple article says: "Note: 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 ...
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1
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259
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Does secure erase through Terminal affect old user accounts?
I had some problems with an old user account on a Macbook Pro with SSD, and I wanted to start fresh. I am not sure if I deleted the account, but I think I did reinstall the OS through I think internet ...
user249662
15
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4
answers
6k
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Reformat Mac SSD drive so fast - did it really work?
I followed the directions here for erasing my 500 GB SSD drive on a MacBook Pro:
How to reinstall macOS
I chose the strongest erasing option under the security options. I hit the erase button, and ...
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1
answer
152
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Reformat hard drive - why do I have two hard drive options?
I'm trying to erase my hard drive by reformatting. I am following the steps here:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904
I am using the Opt ⌥ Cmd ⌘ R option on startup to install the ...
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1
answer
653
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Can I tell whether "Erase data" is enabled from the lock screen?
iOS has an option to erase all data after 10 failed passcode attempts. Is it somehow displayed on the lock screen?
Are any warnings about this options shown while the wrong codes are being entered?
...
- 710
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2
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356
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Securely remove files from an NTFS drive?
I have an external NTFS drive, and I want to securely remove some files from it. SRM is no longer available in Sierra. I tried to install SRM with Homebrew, and did install it successfully, but when I ...
2
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1
answer
200
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Does rm -rf * in home directory in MacBook Pro deletes all my pictures in Photos app?
Actually I have sold my MacBook Pro and before doing that, I did rm -rf * in home directory and then in Disk Utility I erased both the disk options then I was not able to boot again , when restarted ...
- 169
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1
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125
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Is it safe to use a drive that previously had bad sectors (since reallocated via a Secure Erase) [duplicate]
My internal hard drive was playing up and diagnostics found that it had 20 bad sectors. I've since done a high security erase of the drive and all my issues seemed to go away. Disk Utility reported ...
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8
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SRM gone in macOS Sierra (10.12)
I've just updated to macOS 10.12 and when I try to execute srm in Terminal, it says -bash: srm: command not found.
Is srm removed? How to fix this?
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Secure erase trashed files in El Capitan
I accidentally emptied my trash (not secure emptied it) but there were some files in there that I should've properly erased. Is there a way I can bring them back to properly erase them?
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2
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How to exercise a new hard drive by erasing multiple times with Disk Utility app?
In El Capitan, in the Disk Utility app, I cannot find the option to rewrite bogus data (zeros or ones) across the entire drive multiple times.
I am using a spinning rust platter disk, not an SSD.
...
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My iPhone was stolen [closed]
My iPhone6 was stolen
and the thief was Erased my id from Icloud
In my country I do not get police help
How can I track her position
Or it back together
6
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1
answer
1k
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iPad - erase data completely
I am selling my old iPad 4, in which I stored some private data. I have done erasing my iPad data and settings, is it true that all my data is really gone and completely unrecoverable?
If not, what ...
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3
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How to "Secure Empty Trash..." (wipe free space) on OS X El Capitan?
Before OS X El Capitan, when viewing the Trash folder and pressing the "Alt" key you have been able to Secure Empty Trash... however this feature has been removed from OS X El Capitan!
Does anyone ...
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If I erase my iPhone remotely, what happens to my iCloud backup?
My iPhone 5s just got stolen and I did all the proper procedures (activated lost my iPhone on icloud.com and cancelled my data with my carrier). Am I, by any chance, in risk of erasing my phone ...
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How is OS X able to authenticate to my router even when the disk is removed?
I removed the hard drive from my laptop (MBP 9.1, mid 2012) and started recovery mode. Once I entered recovery mode, the laptop was connected to my router (secured with WPA2), even though I had not ...
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iOS auto-erase after 10 wrong passcode attempts: will the iCloud activation lock still work?
After a recent and unsettling experience of having my iPhone stolen a few weeks ago, I have tried to harden the security settings on my new device. The old device has still not responded to a remote ...
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I am trying to erase and reformat drive with snow leopard, but don't have the install DVD
I have a 2009 MacBook Pro running Snow Leopard, and I'm selling it to someone. Want to erase and reformat the drive but I don't have the Snow Leopard Install DVD. Is there any way to do this?
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