Secure Empty Trash missing on El Capitan

babowa wrote:

I have the perfect solution: simply add the word 'secure' back into the command - mind you, no change in how it currently works, just change the name. Everyone will be happy.

Yes we could ask VW how that approach is working for them. 😉

Yeah, I knew the lawyers would have a problem with that, LOL....... 😀

The idea was offered in jest of course...... (and I'm glad I don't have a VW - apparently they're currently trying to offer a rather small "good will" gesture enticing consumers to purchase a new vehicle instead of a repair, but the contract appears to preclude any further action by the consumer).

If you want Secure Empty Trash back, I know that Pathfinder for Mac still has it:

http://www.cocoatech.com/pathfinder/

And this enhanced Finder App has many of the features that Finder should have natively...

Would that app require that one must first disable SIP? Just checking as it appears to alter system files.

I do not recall having to disable any security when installing.

I did not install natively on 10.11, but already had it installed by 10.10 and its upgraded itself since.

Well, have a read here:

About System Integrity Protection on your Mac - Apple Support

kungfuu72 wrote:

If you want Secure Empty Trash back, I know that Pathfinder for Mac still has it

It is still subject to the same limitations that make it just as unreliable as the now removed OS X version. This has been explained many times now in this very long discussion.

The bottom line remains the same: all these utilities use exactly the same executables built into OS X you can invoke using Terminal (see for instance the man page for diskutil) but all they can do is overwrite where the file system says the files' data is stored. That will never be where it actually is stored on an SSD, & may or may not be where it is on a conventional HHD.

I agree with EVERY person who has written that there is no TRUE security when you empty your trash. I was ONLY giving those who miss "Secure Empty Trash" with El Capitan a way to empty their trash cans without error messages.

The fact is that there is digital dust and frags left on your hard drive that can be detected ANY time you empty your 'trash', whether it is "Empty Trash" or "SECURE EMPTY TRASH". So the concept of "Secure' is TOTALLY FALSE. The ONLY way to even THINK that you MAY've actually not left anything in your free space is to consider using an app LIKE "Shredlt X" IF you set your preference for cleaning your free space on your disc to NSA, DoE, and/or DoD standards. I use this every three days to every week, depending on what I'm working on...to clean all of that 'digital dust' and the frags that basically get written over when you simply "Empty Trash". However, I STILL DO NOT have ANY illusion that even THIS app will do the WHOLE JOB on a regular hard drive (this is NOT about SSDs). I did NOT mean to imply that "Secure Empty Trash" ACTUALLY SECURELY EMPTIES YOUR TRASH ON A REGULAR HARD DRIVE. As has been noted by several who commented, dealing with this on an SSD is a totally DIFFERENT ISSUE, which I will not BEGIN to cover here. My comments were ONLY to those who COULD NOT EMPTY THEIR TRASH WITHOUT ERROR MESSAGES, NOT TO LET INDIVIDUALS KNOW THAT ANYTHING I WROTE ACTUALLY INSURED THAT "SECURE EMPTY TRASH" (in previous OS, e.g. Mavericks, etc.).ANY idea that they were ACTUALLY 'SECURELY' emptying their trash. My comments were ONLY to give those individuals who were UNABLE empty their trash with El Capitan without the MISNOMER "SECURE EMPTY TRASH". ACTUALLY, THE NOTION OF 'SECURITY' ANYWHERE IN CYBERSPACE is UNREAL. EVEN if you use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) AND use an app such as I mentioned like "Shredlt X", ANYTHING YOU WRITE ON YOUR COMPUTERS (OR DEVICES--MOST, NOT ALL OF US HAVE SOME KIND OF CONNECTION BETWEEN OUR DEVICES AND OUR COMPUTERS) IS OPEN TO SCRUTINY BY SOMEONE/ANYONE who has the skill to copy/hack/hijack or otherwise 'violate' any of your computer/device information.

My way of ensuring nothing is recoverable: when the SSD fails, I will take a hammer to it. In the meantime, I do not use cloud, syncing, social media, and try to leave as tiny a digital footprint in cyberspace.

FWIW, please do not type in caps - it is not only difficult to read, but considered shouting.

In addition to Babowa's comments, there are many of us that simply refuse to read message posted in caps.

Allan Eckert wrote:

In addition to Babowa's comments, there are many of us that simply refuse to read message posted in caps.

Well you know if it is in caps, bold and underlined, it must be important. 😉

leroydouglas wrote:

Allan Eckert wrote:

In addition to Babowa's comments, there are many of us that simply refuse to read message posted in caps.

Well you know if it is in caps, bold and underlined, it must be important. 😉

Nothing is that important that I am going to strain my eyes attempting to read it. For me the least formatting used is the best.

Dear Apple:

There is another very helpful use for "Secure Empty Trash" command, other than deleting sensitive files. In fact, I have been using the command for years, but never for erasing sensitive files. Rather, I use it for deleting files — most often .pdf files — that have been closed, but for some unknown reason (that dates back to the very first versions of OS X), act as if they are still open. I don't know how many times this has happened and on various Macs.

Perhaps if this "bug" was finally fixed, there would not be as many people clamoring for the "Secure Empty Trash" command to be again implemented in a future update of OS X. Just a thought! 8-)

The "solved" link does not seem to be working.

If anyone has a suggestion for how to remove deleted .pdf files from the trash other than "Secure Empty Trash", please advice & thank you! 8-)

Ah ha — found a way! Open the Trash, then select the desired file(s) to delete, right click on one of these files, then select "Delete Immediately". Not as quick as the "Secure Empty Trash" method, but at least it works.

But it would still be nice for Apple to fix this on going "bug" — or what has seemed like a bug for many years. 8-)

infinityBBC wrote:

The "solved" link does not seem to be working.

If anyone has a suggestion for how to remove deleted .pdf files from the trash other than "Secure Empty Trash", please advice & thank you! 8-)

Ah ha — found a way! Open the Trash, then select the desired file(s) to delete, right click on one of these files, then select "Delete Immediately". Not as quick as the "Secure Empty Trash" method, but at least it works.

But it would still be nice for Apple to fix this on going "bug" — or what has seemed like a bug for many years. 8-)

It is not a "bug". It is a feature. Hence it is here to stay like other features.