I just used Disk Utility to erase my 12 year old desktop Mac to sell. Does the new file this process creates also somehow leave any of my personal data vulnerable for the next owner to find? I also replaced the macOS with the latest. Thank you
Earlier Mac models
It depends on whether the old desktop Mac used a hard drive or Fusion Drive. If so, then your data can technically still be accessed by a data recovery program unless you had previously enabled Filevault. If the Mac only used an SSD, then the data is gone even with a simple erase.
If the system contains a hard drive, then you would either first need to enable Filevault....letting the encryption process complete....followed by a simple erase of the physical drive. Or you would need to use Disk Utility's secure erase feature to write zeroes to the entire hard drive.
It depends on whether the old desktop Mac used a hard drive or Fusion Drive. If so, then your data can technically still be accessed by a data recovery program unless you had previously enabled Filevault. If the Mac only used an SSD, then the data is gone even with a simple erase.
If the system contains a hard drive, then you would either first need to enable Filevault....letting the encryption process complete....followed by a simple erase of the physical drive. Or you would need to use Disk Utility's secure erase feature to write zeroes to the entire hard drive.
No, those hidden files/folders are part of macOS and are newly created when you erase the volume. A simple erase using Disk Utility creates a replacement volume with default settings and possibly a few new default files/folders required by macOS.
Now, I do need to clarify that if your Mac uses an unencrypted hard drive (or Fusion Drive), then your old personal data can technically still be accessed by a data recovery app since a simple erase using Disk Utility does not actually overwrite any personal data.
Sorry, I do not mean to confuse you here, but it all depends on whether an SSD or unencrypted hard drive is involved whether your old data is still able to be accessed after a simple erase using Disk Utility. The new volume is empty & contains no personal files unless you use a data recovery app (assuming an unencrypted hard drive).
Not if you followed the instructions for older Mac's,
at > What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support
Disk Utility contrary to what you may think does not leave the drive completely empty when using the "Erase" feature. There will be some hidden files and/or folders on the drive for system use and is perfectly normal.
Keep in mind the Apple article @den.thed link assumes the Mac is using an SSD or has Filevault enabled. Apple forgets that some users may be trying to securely erase older systems which used a hard drive which retains data even after a simple erase.
I honestly don't know. The older intel-based Mac that I have now replaced was from late 2012. I followed the procedure for preparing a mac for sale I found online from the Apple Community (Command-R, Disk Utility, erase). It just bothers me that it leaves a couple of files behind at the end of the process that I had to name, but neither add up to much total space.
I followed the procedure for preparing a mac for sale I found online from the Apple Community (Command-R, Disk Utility, erase). It just bothers me that it leaves a couple of files behind at the end of the process that I had to name, but neither add up to much total space.
Will those hidden files and/or folders contain personal information? After the first time I used Disk Utility, and realized upon completion that it left a couple of files behind in the process, I deleted those files. Then I had a heck of a time getting the unit back to where it would reboot and become usable again. I had to use my Time Machine backup, then re-ran the Disk Utility process all over again, this time without deleting the files that were left behind as a result of this process.
Thank you. You have been very helpful. Last question: I did find that my hard drive is listed as a 1 TB "HDD Optical". Does this designation indicate that it is potentially unencrypted? Thanks again!
Personal Data at Risk?
