Do I need to secure-empty trash to prevent fragmentation?

Question

Do I need to secure-empty trash to prevent fragmentation?

I now have SSD based hard disks. I keep reading a lot of mixed commentary online in forums about the secure-emptying of SSD disks...some people advise *against* it.

I don't care about privacy of data. These are all things just at my home.

My real worry is about fragmentation. Even with my Mac Book Pro, regardless of what they say, as the hard disk fills up, the machine gets slower. So I want to be ultra-cautious about how I keep my system.

Is there any value or need to secure-empty my trash as it was recommended in the olden days to prevent frag?

(And please don't tell me the hackneyed thing about "Macs dont need defrag".)

Thanks!

Posted on Jan 20, 2014 4:13 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

WZZZ

Level 6

13,220 points

Jan 20, 2014 5:04 AM in response to Nearly-Normal

http://helpdeskgeek.com/featured-posts/should-you-defrag-an-ssd/

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2047513/fragging-wonderful-the-truth-about-defrag ging-your-ssd.html

And yes, here is the accurate, not hackneyed, answer (related to mechanical drives): unless you have very large files, there is no benefit to defragging a Mac.

Secure Empty writes 7 passes of random zeros and ones. So doing that to an SSD will not only not be helpful, but it will increase the wear.

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