How to Use Mac File Shredder to Permanently Delete Files or Folders on Mac?

Quick Navigation:

• How Does Mac File Shredding Software Work?
• Importance of File Shredding
• Methods to Delete or Permanently Delete Files on Mac
• Conclusion
• FAQs About Data Erasure on Mac

In this digital world, keeping data safe is important for people and businesses. When you delete files on a Mac, they are not gone; they can often be recovered with special tools (such as Do Your Data Recovery for Mac, check how to recover deleted/formatted data on Mac >>). It is where shredders for Mac come in handy. File shredders delete files safely by overwriting the data several times, making it impossible to get back.

This article discusses why file shredding is important, how it works, and which file shredders are the best for Mac. It also gives you step-by-step instructions on how to use these tools and safe tips for deleting extra data. You can protect your private information, follow data protection rules, and stop identity theft by learning to use and understand file shredders.

How Does Mac File Shredding Software Work?

The operating system only deletes the file's entry from the file system table when you normally delete a file. That leaves room for new data. However, until new data is added to this space, different data recovery tools can restore the original file.

File shredders work by putting random data over the file's space many times. Restoring the original file after this process is impossible because the original data is not left on the stored disk. Some advanced shredding algorithms go one step further and change the file's information or rename it afterward.

Importance of File Shredding

You can't say enough good things about shredding files, especially regarding data security and privacy. Here are some important reasons why it's important to delete files:

• Protecting Private Data: Shredding keeps private data out of the wrong hands, whether personal papers, financial records, or secret business files.
• Compliance with Regulations: There are strict rules about data protection in many fields that demand the safe deletion of sensitive data. Shredding helps businesses follow these rules and avoid big fines.
• Preventing Identity Theft: Identity thieves may be interested in the personal information you keep on your computer. Shredding files with personal information makes identity theft less likely.
• Freeing Up Space Securely: When you want to free up space on your hard drive, shredding ensures that deleted files are gone for good, not hidden. It makes the best use of storage space.

Methods to Delete or Permanently Delete Files on Mac

Mac users can choose from several file shredders with features and functions. Here, we'll examine some of the best choices and briefly explain what they can do.

#1 Securely delete files via Trash [Files can be recovered]

A file is not removed just by dragging it to the Trash. Trash needs to be emptied yet.

To do this, right-click the Trash icon in the dock and choose Empty Trash. The system will confirm if you wish to permanently remove the files from the Trash. Click the Empty Trash button only if you are positive.

Another option is to use the Finder to empty the Trash. Choose Empty Trash from the Finder menu, then confirm your emptying operation.

Note: The emptied files are not lost for good, they can be recovered by data recovery software.

#2 Use Shortcuts to Remove Files on a Mac [Files can be recovered]

• Press the Option + Command + Delete keys to permanently remove a file or folder without going through the Trash.
• Press the Command + Delete keys to move a file or folder to the Trash.
• Press Command + Option + Shift + Delete to empty your Trash.

Note: The files which are deleted by using Shortcuts still can be recovered by data recovery software.

#3 Permanently delete files on Mac using DoYourData Super Eraser [Files unrecoverable]

It would help if you removed any important files on your Mac before you sell it or give it to someone else. This way, no one will be able to see them. Is there a quick and safe way to delete things from my Mac for good? It would help if you gave DoYourData Super Eraser for Mac a try.

Note: Once the files/folders are deleted by DoYourData Super Eraser for Mac, the files/folders are lost for good, no trace left, cannot be recovered any method. So, please add the right files/folders to erase and you'd better back up the important files to another drive before permanently deleting them from your Mac.

Follow the steps below to securely and permanently delete files/folders on Mac:

Step 1: Add Mac files for erasure.

You can see three ways to delete data on your Mac after running DoYourData Super Eraser. To permanently delete Mac files, choose "Erase files/folders." Then click on Add button to add files and folders for erasure, you also can drag the files/folders to the erasure area.

Step 2: Permanently erase Mac files.

Check the erasure list, make sure you want to permanently delete the selected files/folders from your Mac. When you click the "Erase Now" button, certified data-erasure algorithms will delete the chosen Mac files for good.

Once the process gets finished, you can run a data recovery app to scan the Mac drive, the recovery app won't find any trace of the erased files/folders, they are gone for good.

It's very simple to use Super Eraser for Mac. You need to install it on your Mac and run it when you want to permanently delete files. It will delete only the files you choose; it won't remove any other files.

Other shredding options:

Here are some other well-known Mac file shredders to think about:

• Disk Utility (Built-in): Disk Utility on old OS versions has a simple "Secure Empty Trash" option. That has moderate security because it uses a single-pass overwrite method.
• MacClean360: This tool for optimizing your system has a built-in file shredder that can replace files in multiple ways.
• ShredIt X: This specialized shredder has an easy-to-use interface and can overwrite in several ways, including those required by DoD.
• AweEraser for Mac: This powerful shredder has many useful features, including multiple erasure options, safe folder deletion, and the ability to erase free space.

Extra Tips for Safely Erasing Data

Besides using file shredders, here are some other things you can do to make sure your data is removed safely from your Mac:

Encrypt Sensitive Files:

You should encrypt private files before you delete them. It adds another level of protection, making it even harder for people to recover the data.

Use Built-in Disk Utility:

Mac's Disk Utility has a "secure erase" tool that lets you safely delete whole drives. This is helpful if you want to delete all the data on a storage device safely.

• Open Disk Utility: Go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.
• Pick out the Drive: Pick the drive you want to delete from the list.
• Erase: To choose the amount of security for erasure, click the "Erase" button and then "Security Options."

Regularly Clean Your Trash:

Making it a habit to empty your Trash box often will keep deleted files from piling up. To make things safer, use a file cutter to empty the Trash. Check how to empty trash on Mac automatically >>

Backup Important Data:

Ensure you have a copy of any important data before shredding files. You can't get back things that have been shredded, so it's important to have a copy of everything you might need later. With disk cloning software, you can easily make a full bootable clone backup for your Mac.

Conclusion:

It is important to delete files and folders permanently on your Mac to keep your data safe and protect your privacy. File shredders are a safe and effective way to delete files so they can't be recovered.

If you know how file shredders work and use the tips and tricks in this guide, you can keep your private data safe and secure. Whether you are a professional or a regular user, taking the time to shred your files the right way is an important part of keeping your digital life safe.

FAQs About Data Erasure on Mac

1. What is "Permanently Delete Files on Mac" and how to permanently delete files on Mac?

When you see this topic, you may think it is easy - it is easy to permanently delete files on Mac. You may think you can permanently delete your files or folders by Command+Delete or emptying the trash bin. Actually, after deletion+emptying trash bin, your files are not permanently lost. You just delete the entry of the files on your Mac to make them disappeared. Many of data recovery programs like Do Your Data Recovery for Mac can easily recover the deleted files even you have emptied the trash bin. Other people also know the truth, they can easily restore your sensitive data or private information by recovering these deleted files.

And you can't get your files permanently lost with disk utility. The erasure function of disk utility can erase your Mac hard drive. But you or other people still can recover lost files after erasing Mac hard drive with disk utility.

Before you sell your Mac or give your Mac to other person, you'd better permanently delete your important files. Permanently deleting files on your Mac means to use special data erasure tool or file shredding software to securely and permanently erase the files so that they cannot be recovered by data recovery software.

DoYourData Super Eraser for Mac is a Mac file shredder that can permanently delete files and folders from your Mac hard drive or storage media. It uses advanced erasure technology to destroy, overwrite the Mac data to prevent data recovery. After erasing the files with DoYourData Super Eraser for Mac, the files are lost for good, no way to recover them.

Here are the steps to permanently delete Mac files with DoYourData Super Eraser for Mac:

• Download and install DoYourData Super Eraser for Mac on the Mac.
• Open DoYourData Super Eraser for Mac, choose Erase Files/Folders mode.
• Add target files and folders.
• Click on Erase Now button to securely erase the selected files and folders.

2. What is the best Mac shredder?

Here is the list of top 5 Mac file shredder software:

• DoYourData Super Eraser for Mac
• MacClean360
• AweEraser for Mac
• ShredIt X
• Donemax Data Eraser for Mac

3. How to wipe an external hard drive on Mac?

DoYourData Super Eraser for Mac is a comprehensive Mac data erasure application. It can help you wipe everything from an external hard drive.

• Download and install DoYourData Super Eraser for Mac.
• Connect the external hard drive to the Mac and open DoYourData Super Eraser for Mac.
• Open DoYourData Super Eraser for Mac, choose Wipe Hard Drive mode.
• Select the external hard drive, click on Wipe Now button, select a data erasure standard.
• Click on Continue button to wipe the external hard drive.

4. Is there any way to erase already deleted files on Mac?

Wiping free disk space of the Mac internal SSD can help you securely and permanently erase the deleted files on your Mac. Open DoYourData Super Eraser for Mac and choose Wipe Free Space mode, click on Wipe Now button to securely erase all deleted/lost files from your Mac.