Forum Discussion
Anyone know a good file shredder for mac for permanent data deletion?
If you're looking for a reliable file shredder for Mac to permanently delete files on a Mac,here are some options you can consider:
1. Using Built-in macOS Secure Empty Trash (older versions)
Note: This feature was available in older macOS versions (up to macOS Mavericks), but Apple removed it in newer versions.
If you're on an older system, you can use "Secure Empty Trash" by right-clicking the Trash icon and selecting it.
2. Using Terminal with rm and srm commands
macOS used to include srm (secure remove) for secure deletion, but it has been deprecated.
For modern macOS versions, you can use the rm command, but it does not securely overwrite data by default.
3. Using Disk Utility for wiping free space
You can erase free disk space to overwrite deleted files:
Open Disk Utility → select your drive → click Erase or use Erase Free Space (if available).
Note: This process can be time-consuming and might not be as thorough as dedicated shredding tools.
What is the best file shredder for Mac? BleachBit are good options for Mac. They securely overwrite files making recovery virtually impossible.