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Keeping your private information safe in today's widespread data hacks and identity theft is more important. If you want to keep your data safe, you can't just hit the delete button when you're getting a new Mac, selling your old one, or cleaning up your digital life.

Many people think that when they delete files, they are gone permanently, but copies of them can stay around and be found by sophisticated data recovery tools. This complete guide will teach you everything you need to know to keep people from recovering your lost info on your Mac.

We'll discuss the safest ways to delete files, encrypt your data, and keep your private information private. These methods include using built-in apps and third-party tools. Prepare to take charge of your online history and protect your information from possible threats.

What Is Data Recovery? Why Lost Data Can Be Recovered?

Data recovery means returning data lost, deleted, or unavailable from hard drives, solid-state drives, USB flash drives, memory cards, and other storage devices. People often use this method when they delete files by mistake, lose them because of faulty hardware, or get damaged by software problems or virus attacks.

This method returns data that can't be seen or accessed normally using special tools and methods. Professionals or do-it-yourself software can be used for data recovery based on how badly the data was lost and how tech-savvy the user is.

Data recovery can save the day in many scenarios but also makes people worry about their privacy and safety. When private information is at stake, being able to get back deleted data can be very dangerous. People and businesses need to be aware that unwanted people could get their hands on their private information if the right steps aren't taken.

Risks of Incomplete Data Deletion

Here are some risks of incomplete data deletion:

  • Data Breaches: Data breaches can happen when private files are partially deleted. If someone gets into your device without your permission, they can get back data that you removed, which could include private or sensitive data.
  • Identity Theft: If you don't delete your data properly, personal information like social security numbers, bank information, and other private data can be found and used against you. This information can be used for identity theft, which can cost you money and have long-lasting effects.
  • Unauthorized Access: Files can leave traces on a storage device even after they have been deleted. Cybercriminals can retrieve this information using data recovery tools, which puts your privacy and safety at risk.
  • Legal And Compliance Issues: A business that doesn't delete data safely could break the law. Regulations like GDPR and HIPAA require that personal information be handled safely and deleted, and people who don't follow them can be fined a lot of money.
  • Loss of Reputation: Data breaches caused by overwriting deleted files can hurt a person or a group's reputation. Trust is very important, and losing a client's or customer's trust can have long-lasting effects.

prevent data recovery on Mac

How to Prevent Data Recovery & Make Data Recovery Be Impossible on Mac?

Method 1: Secure Deletion Using Disk Utility

When you securely delete data on your Mac using Disk Utility, your information is gone. To delete something completely and safely, follow these steps:

Step 1. Open Disk Utility: Use Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility. You could also use Spotlight by hitting Command + Space and typing "Disk Utility."

Step 2. Select the Disk: In the Disk Utility window, select the disk or section you want to delete from the list on the left.

Step 3. Choose Erase: At the top of the box, click the "Erase" button.

prevent data recovery on Mac

Step 4. Set Erase Options: There will be a dialogue box with options for erasing the disk. You can give the disk a new name and choose the format you want, such as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or APFS.

prevent data recovery on Mac

Step 5. Access Security Options: To change how safe it is to erase, click on Security Options. Slide the bar to choose how many passes you want. The deletion is safer the more times it is done. For instance, moving the slider to the right will erase the disk seven times, ensuring the delete is safe.

prevent data recovery on Mac

Step 6. Erase the Disk: When you're done setting up the protection, click OK. Last, click the "Erase" button to begin the safe delete process.

prevent data recovery on Mac

Step 7. Wait for Completion: The time it takes may depend on the disk size and the level of security you choose. When it's done, your disk will be securely erased, and you won't be able to get the info back.

prevent data recovery on Mac

Note: If you want to erase the internal SSD of the Mac, just start the Mac into macOS Recovery mode, then choose Disk Utility to erase the startup disk.

How to Erase Startup Disk on Mac

How to Erase Startup Disk on Mac

Shut down the Mac, then turn it on, press and hold Command+R or Power button to enter into macOS Recovery mode, use Disk Utility to erase the internal HDD or SSD.

Method 2: Permanently Erase Data Using Mac Data Erasure Software

In some special situations (such as will give away the Mac), the Mac users need to permanently erase all private files on their Macs to prevent any potential data recovery of deleted files, lost files. Data recovery software can even recover lost data from a drive which is erased by Disk Utility. So, if you want to permanently erase existing data or deleted/lost data on a Mac, you need special Mac data erasure software tool.

DoYourData Super Eraser for Mac

  • Permanently erase existing data and deleted/lost data on Mac.
  • Wipe hard drive or external device on Mac.
  • Certified data erasure algorithms such as NIST 800-88, DoD 5220.22-M, etc.

DoYourData Super Eraser for Mac is a powerful Mac data erasure tool which can help you prevent data recovery on Mac. It offers certified data erasure method to permanently erase data, wipe hard drive, wipe deleted data from your Mac internal HDD/SSD, USB flash drive, memory card, digital camera, external hard drive, etc. It offers three modes to help you permanently erase data and prevent data recovery on Mac.

Mode 1: Permanently erase files/folders on Mac to avoid data recovery.

If you want to permanently delete some files/folders on your Mac, this mode – "Erase Files/Folders" is perfect for you. You just need to add the files/folders to the erasure list, then click on Erase Now button to securely and permanently erase the selected files/folders.

Erase Files/Folders on Mac

Mode 2: Wipe entire hard drive on Mac to prevent data recovery on Mac.

"Wipe Hard Drive" can help you permanently wipe an entire hard drive or external device (like USB flash drive, memory card, digital camera, etc) to permanently erase all data information from the hard drive or device. It means once the hard drive is erased by this mode, all data stored on this hard drive is erased permanently, cannot be recovered by any method.

Wipe Hard Drive on Mac

Mode 3: Prevent deleted file recovery/data recovery on Mac.

"Wipe Free Space" will help you wipe the free disk space of the hard drive to permanently erase the already deleted/formatted or lost data on this hard drive. It will not affect the existing data on your hard drive.

Wipe Free Space on Mac

  • Prevent deleted file recovery on Mac.
  • Prevent formatted recovery on Mac.
  • Prevent lost data from being recovered by data recovery software on Mac.

DoYourData Super Eraser for Mac can help you securely prevent data recovery on your Mac. From permanently deleting a file to prevent deleted file recovery on Mac. It also can help you permanently erase data from external HDD/SSD, USB flash drive, memory card, digital camera under Mac OS.

Method 3: Shred Files on Mac with MacClean360

MacClean360 is an all-in-one Mac optimization tool. It offers File Shredder tool to help Mac users securely and permanently erase files and folders.

Step 1. Download and Install MacClean360.

Go to the MacClean360 page and download the installer. Then, to install MacClean360 on your Mac, open the downloaded file and follow the steps. Click Download below to download MacClean360.

Step 2. Open Software.

To start MacClean360 after installation, go to the Applications folder or press Command + Space and type "MacClean360" into Spotlight.

Step 3. Navigate to the Shredder Tool.

To find the File Shredder tool in MacClean360, go to the Privacy area on the left side of the screen.

MacClean360 disk manager

Step 4. Add Files for Erasure.

The safest way to delete files or folders is to drag and drop them into the Shredder box. You can click the Add button to hand-select items from your Mac.

MacClean360 disk manager

Step 5. Start the Shredding Process.

To start the safe deleting process, click the "Erase" button. If asked, confirm the move.

MacClean360 disk manager

Step 6. Wait for Completion.

MacClean360 will safely delete the chosen files by overwriting them several times to ensure they can't be retrieved. How long it takes will depend on how many and how many files are being cleared.

MacClean360 disk manager

Conclusion:

Protecting your private information on a Mac requires more than just removing files. Protecting your privacy and security means knowing the risks of not deleting all of your data and using safe methods. Using built-in tools like Disk Utility or third-party software can delete your data in a way that can't be recovered.

It protects you from data breaches, identity theft, and illegal access. If you do these things, you can feel good about managing your digital life. Your private information will stay private, and your digital record will be safe.

DoYourData Super Eraser for Mac

DoYourData Super Eraser for Mac

DoYourData Super Eraser for Mac is a 100% safe, powerful and easy-to-use data erasure program. It offers certified data erasure standards including Peter Gutmann, U.S. Army AR380-19, DoD 5220.22-M ECE to permanently erase data from Macs and external devices, making data recovery be impossible.

DoYourData Author

Written & Updated by Shirly Chen

Shirly Chen has been writing data recovery, data erasure articles for DoYourData over 4 years. She has been working as a professional website content writer & editor for quite a long time. She also writes articles about disk clone, Mac optimization, disk backup, etc.

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