Complete data wipe ibook G4

It is true that only erasing files by throwing them into the Trash/Wastebasket is not enough. It is also true that doing so, including emptying the Trash/Wastebasket is not sufficient. Finally, it is true that a plain reformatting operation on a hard disk would mean that files can be retrieved by an experienced user, through relatively simple tools (the plain reformatting is more or less the same as erasing only a catalogue/directory/index).

However, as soon as the emptied/erased space is overwritten, it is much harder to locate files. Overwriting the space with only zeros would in most cases lead to difficulties for data specialist to find anything useful. Overwriting the files several times (with different patterns) would make it extremely difficult or almost impossible even for specialists with the most advanced equipment to find anything at all.

The above is valid for normal 'mechanical' hard drives. With solid state drives it is more complicated to securely overwrite files, leading to a higher degree of uncertainty (instead, encryption is often used with such drives).

In all cases, the most efficient method would be to wipe the hard drive and then destroy it by, for example, a sledge.

Apple's Disk Utility is one of the programs that can be used for overwriting files.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3680

Jan

If you want to reset the whole system and don't have a restore disc. Go to System Preferences>Users & Groups and click the lock. After that, you'd want to make a new user by clicking the plus button. Once that's done, go ahead and log out of the current user and log into the new one. Then, once again, go to System Preferences>Users & Groups and click on the lock and now instead of the plus button press the minus button and erase your old user. Hope this helps! Also make sure to delete all your data

Insert its original DVD, restart with the C key held down, and perform an Erase & Restore when prompted. If you're going to be selling or donating it, securely delete all sensitive files first.

(74062)

Hello,

If you don't have the orginal restore disk that came with your iBook, then a retail copy of Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) would be suffice to do the job. It's worth noting that the retail disks don't come with the iLife software an iBook restore disk partially come with.

Best of Luck

Unless you use a modern data removal tool (they will cost) there is no real way of truly deleting personal data from a computer. Using standard tools such as data formatting etc do not work. Many users may argue this fact, and yes visually the data will no longer be there, however by using forensic tools that are available on the internet information can be retrieved. Basic example here http://news.techworld.com/security/3353817/infosec-2012-one-in-10-second-hand-ha rd-drives-contain-personal-data/?intcmp=nws-af-rtd-home.

I use a UK based company (ask for more details if you require them) to delete my data, as my phones have held confidential data regarding my career. I have plenty of other articles to use to support my statements above. But to conclude if you want to be secure don't trust standard data deleting methods as they do not work.

Completely agree with you, it does make it very difficult to recover, however technology advances in all shapes and forms making it just as easy to recover data you don't want people to find. I think even the tech mag Wired said the safest way to go about data deletion is by using a hammer, but if you're looking to maximize your re-sell its not economically correct to do so.

However the public now have access to tools the police use and these aren't as simple and forensically can recover data if a user has enough persistence. And when you think of all the data any gadget stores, pcs, laptops & phones, such as bank details etc persistence by the 'hacker' wouldn't even come into play.

What's more scary is online you don't truly know where your products may end up, for example a buyer from the UK may purchase it, however it is not guaranteed he/she will use it. They may re sell it onto another person for a profit who may be overseas. You can see the data trail will constantly grow.

This may seem all OTT however it is a ugly fact that data privacy is a growing concern as methods to retrieve data are becoming more and more advanced. So official data removal tools are the best techniques for complete piece of mind, especially as E.U law states ' the owners are responsible for data removal'.