Permanent Eraser for Mac2.9.1

Does the caution remain not to use this app on an SSD? How about on a Fusion drive?

Great app that does what it says ??

Valuable utility for those of us luddites stuck with spinning hard drives. Pro-tip for dummies like me: this app works by dragging and dropping files onto its icon in the Applications folder or in the Dock or the Finder sidebar; launching the app by double clicking or via the Dock will only start it up to delete items in the Trash. Once it's completed erasing, the app quits automatically.

Still a wonderful application for hard drives. Not used on my SSDs but certainly now and then on hard drives used for backup. And it is still free after all those years. Thanks to the developer!

This developer has kept his program alive and well for many years now. Always used it; always loved it! Good coder, great app! I gave it 5 stars, but the menu only records 4 and a half.

Great free app!! Works as described by developer. As mentioned, this is for mechanical hard drives only. Do not use on SSD.

I would NOT use it when you have a SSD !!!

The reason Apple removed 'Secure Empty Trash' in El Capitan is, in part, related to the nature of SSDs (Solid State Drives), which are becoming ubiquitous in computing devices. Because of the nature of how SSDs write and erase data, there is no guarantee that a 'Secure Erase' actually removes the targeted data. This problem was written up as a CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures), CVE-2015-5901. You can read about the problem here: http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2015-5901 The article linked above includes 'References' to two further articles at Apple about the situation. NOTE: There is no reason to assume, to my knowledge, that 'Permanent Eraser' is going to permanently 'Secure Empty Trash' either, due to the same situation. Instead, it may simply be needlessly further shortening the life of your SSD compared to ordinary 'Secure Empty Trash.' Here are a couple articles about the situation as well as related information: How to Use “Secure Empty Trash” Equivalent in OS X El Capitan http://osxdaily.com/2015/10/12/secure-empty-trash-equivalent-mac-os-x/ How to replace El Capitan's missing Secure Empty Trash http://www.macworld.com/article/3005796/operating-systems/how-to-replace-secure-empty-trash-in-os-x-el-capitan.html

very simple and functionally tool alternative in os x captain

Never without this app! Developer is doing a great job on a useful piece of free software!

Great App does what it says! There definitely needs to be a check box in the preferences to keep the app open even when its not trashing files. So that you can drop files onto its icon in the dock. It would also be great if you could add an Erase Free Space option, as well as for other drive selection.

I like this! It's a simple app that securely erases files (it defaults to Gutmann 35-pass, but you can change the erase method in prefs to DoD 7-pass if you want) with no muss and no fuss. I like that I can use it without a dock icon or menubar icon if I want, and there is the very useful option to install a service that appears at the bottom of the contextual menu as "Erase" (look for this option in prefs). It's great deal for the price of free. BTW, there's a bug when running ver 2.5.2 on OS X 10.7 Lion that results in only one of several selected files being deleted when Permanent Eraser is activated via the contextual menu service. I wrote to the dev, who responded the same day to say that a fix is coming in version 2.5.3.

I don't think it's fair to rate this product low purely for it's outdated inclusion and hyping of the 35-pass Gutmann method. Apple themselves make the same erroneous claims in Disk Utility, so they set the precedent. If Apple doesn't know any better, how can small developers be expected to? In addition, this tool adds simplicity and convenience to what is more awkward and time consuming to accomplish via a combination of srm at the command line, Secure Empty Trash in the Finder, and Erase Free Space in Disk Utility. You can do the same things without this utility, but this utility makes it so much easier.

I understand that Peter Gutmann NO LONGER recommends his 35 pass wipe on MODERN hard disks. His old 35 pass method was optimized for OLD hard disks NOT modern SATA Hard disks. It still amazes me that people still think his 35 pass method is better.

Only one issue- I find that once launched, it erases so fast that I am unable to get to the Preferences before PE quits. Ands for me, that is very important. When that is resolved, five stars!

From the developer's description: "Once your data has been erased, it can no longer be read through traditional means." But can it be read through *any* means? That is the question.

Installed just as directions specified - drug program icon into app folder. Then installed plug-in. Program works fine, but only by launching it. I can't get the plug-in to work through services, nor can I install the program icon into the menu bar. Is this a limitation with snow leopard?

hey guys. i'm new to the mac stuff, and i came across the Permanent Eraser application and am wondering what the heck "re-write 35 times" means.... what is this whole "re-writing" business? does this take up more space on my hard drive? and what's the meaning of re-writing it 35 times as opposed to 7 times by Secure Empty Trash? i have no idea what any of this lingo means...can somebody please explain this to me so i know i'm not screwing up my computer somehow...thanks

The 'warning' is no longer coming up, as it did in v2.2.3. Should we delete this preference file? - com.edenwaith.permanenteraser.plist

GREAT !! Easy, reliable.

Ok, what is this "Once your data has been erased, it can no longer be read through traditional means" business? I don't think people interested in using a program like this are concerned with "traditional means." I think it is more likely they are interested in their data being unreadable by "any means." You don't do this kid of erase to prevent that guy on ebay from reading your homework, you do a simple format to zero for that. You use software like this to keep the law at bay. Where can I find a program like that?

How is this different from Secure Erase in the Finder?

This comment is no longer relevant. From the Developer's Web Site: "Permanent Eraser 2.2.3 introduced a feature where a dialog box would appear once the application had launched. This warning gives the user the option to either quit or continue with the program. To prevent this warning from appearing, hold down the Option key when launching Permanent Eraser. "

Does not run correctly: It starts, asks if I want to secure empty the trash, empties the trash, then quits. Unsatisfactory. There is potential here, but it needs work. Running 10.3.9

Can someone tell me why it is necessary to overwrite a file more than once? Suppose you have a 100MB hard drive. (I know -- it's just an example.) It is filled with a 100MB file. You delete that file, then load another 100MB file onto the drive. The first 100MB is completely gone, right? Because if it isn't, then you would be fitting more than 100MB on the drive -- and if anything significant could be recovered, then you'd be fitting a lot more than the drive's capacity. If any remotely useful data can be recovered after one -- let alone seven -- rewrites, couldn't one find a way to fit more data on a hard drive than its capacity? I don't see why one would need to overwrite more than just once.

I've been using Permanent Eraser for a while, now. Version 2.2.2 is pretty straightforward and works fine. The fact that this program uses the Gutmman Method should be enough of a reason for folks to use it. Highly recommended.

EVERYBODY MAKES MISTAKES and clicks on the wrong icon, or runs the wrong program, once in a while. It is unacceptable for this program not to give us an opportunity to prevent erasing files EVERY time it runs. I was going to use this program to compare it to Secure Empty Trash, but, well, I make mistakes too. Developer, add this teensey little feature and you'll have a useful program. Otherwise, nevermind.

BEWARE! - GALACTIC BLACK HOLE. The application runs automatically as soon as you install it and you can't quit it. It's enough to put a file onto it and it will be erased without warning. It doesn't give any room for error. If this application doesn't have to alert you, no application in the world should. It is safer to simply continue using "Secure Empty Trash" in Finder. The developer answer to this: "Several points to clarify: 1) Permanent Eraser does not run as soon as it is installed. It only runs when it is launched, just like any other application. 2) If you have never launched Permanent Eraser before, it does pop up an alert box, warning you about what is going to happen. You are also given the choice to continue or quit the program. 3) Even if the program has started to delete your files, there is a Cancel button which will stop the program." So as he put doubt in my mind I downloaded it again and the same things happened, sorry. I use iMac Intel running OS 10.4.8.

Are file *names* erased permanently, too?

Why add a UB version? If 10.3 and 10.4 have it natively, then this is for

Permanent Eraser 2.1.2 works as advertised. It's simple & clean. For a free shredder, you can't beat it. Currently using Mac OS X 10.2.8 . Thanks to the developer.

There have been several reported cases of Permanent Eraser not launching or not properly working at all. This is an issue which is caused by later versions of Stuffit Expander (i.e. 8 or 9) which cannot correctly uncompress the file permanenteraser.sit. An alternate download for Permanent Eraser can be found here: http://www.edenwaith.com/downloads/permanenteraser.dmg.gz Permanent Eraser 2.1.1 works on all versions of Mac OS 10.1 through 10.4.

Doesn't launch. Using OSX.2.8 and when I try to launch the app nothing happens. What's upp?

I found this app just today and down loaded it right away to my mother's laptop. She does business on this system so now she is pretty happy in knowing any information in the trash bin is securely erased. The fact its free, and really works, earns it high stars.

Is there a possibily (Terminal?) to add this feature to your Finder-menu?

Simple, very fast, very safe (Gutmann) and free, what more do you want?

It's not supposed to work in 10.3.8. Panther has this feature built in. The description says this is for people who use 10.2 and earlier systems!

Doesn't work with 10.3.8 - double click icon. Nothing happens. No log files, no message in the console.

Works great. Permanent Eraser 2.1 seems to be a simple shredder. There's no need to do anything but click it, to erase the trash. And, simple drag & drop takes care of file/folders. About the only thing it doesn't do is shred disk (free) space. Also, is it actually using the Gutmann method? 35 passes alone doesn't mean it's Gutmann shredded. There's a pattern that must be followed. Still, as far as free shredders go, hey, it looks good. SecretShredder does the same in demo mode, and more. You can adjust the shredding process. And, if you register it, you would have the added function of being able to shred disk (free) space.

i like how the screenshot is it erasing internet explorer. =) its free. thank you.

it seems to be working but i dont know why it shreds much faster then SecretShredder, is it because its lower lvl of shredding? settings are same?? hmm.