how to secure empty trash mac el capitan

Right-click it and choose New Terminal at Folder. Now, you need to go to Finder and find the folder that stores the file you want to delete securely. Enable New Terminal at Folder and New Terminal Tab at Folder.Open System Preferences (Apple menu > System Preferences).

But, there is still a way to safely delete files using the “rm” command.įirstly, you need to enable some settings in System Preferences. Apple has eliminated this option with the introduction of the macOS Sierra. Previously, you could securely delete files on your Mac using the “rsm” command in Terminal. How to securely erase files using the 'rm' command So, there are two ways we can securely erase a file: one is via a Mac utility with a secure eraser and the other is with the Trash. Think of it like… a file is written on paper (your Mac) in pencil, and you erase the file with an eraser - You can still see the marks that were made on the paper! But, when you secure erase, you rewrite gibberish over the original pencil marks, and then erase it: there's no way to read it (it can't be recovered)!

See, when you typically empty the Trash, you're just deleting the access point to the file. What this means is, is that a file that is securely erased cannot be recovered by you or any third-party applications it's the ultimate way to completely get rid of files. Secure erasing a file is removing the file completely from your Mac. But to help you do it all by yourself, we’ve gathered our best ideas and solutions below. So here's a tip for you: Download CleanMyMac to quickly solve some of the issues mentioned in this article.

How to secure empty trash mac el capitan