Permanent Eraser allows you to securely delete files. When you normally delete your files in Mac OS X, the operating system is only forgetting where those particular files are placed, while the data still physically remains on the drive. Beginning with OS X 10.3, Apple enhanced its security by introducing the Secure Empty Trash feature, which follows the U.S. DoD pattern of overwriting data seven times.
Permanent Eraser provides an even stronger level of security by implementing the Gutmann Method. This utility overwrites your data thirty-five times, scrambles the
Permanent Eraser provides an even stronger level of security by implementing the Gutmann Method. This utility overwrites your data thirty-five times, scrambles the
What's New
Version 2.6.2:
- Updated plug-in for OS X 10.9 Mavericks.
- Fixed the code signing to work properly with Gatekeeper.
- Tested and verified for OS X 10.9 Mavericks.
Requirements
Intel/PPC, OS X 10.5 or later
Intel/PPC, OS X 10.5 or later
Permanent Eraser User Discussion (Write a Review)
(17)
Overall:
(17)
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Permanent Eraser allows you to securely delete files. When you normally delete your files in Mac OS X, the operating system is only forgetting where those particular files are placed, while the data still physically remains on the drive. Beginning with OS X 10.3, Apple enhanced its security by introducing the Secure Empty Trash feature, which follows the U.S. DoD pattern of overwriting data seven times.
Permanent Eraser provides an even stronger level of security by implementing the Gutmann Method. This utility overwrites your data thirty-five times, scrambles the original file name, and truncates the file size to nothing before Permanent Eraser finally unlinks it from the system. Once your data has been erased, it can no longer be read through traditional means.
Permanent Eraser provides an even stronger level of security by implementing the Gutmann Method. This utility overwrites your data thirty-five times, scrambles the original file name, and truncates the file size to nothing before Permanent Eraser finally unlinks it from the system. Once your data has been erased, it can no longer be read through traditional means.
- Implements the Gutmann Method via srm to remove files
- Erases the files in your Trash
- Erases CD-RWs and DVD-RWs
- Erases files dropped on the application icon
- Provides a warning dialog before files are erased (Press the Option key to bypass this warning).
- Universal Binary
- Localized for English, German, French, Dutch, Italian, Swedish, and Traditional Chinese
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Multimedia-Pimp reviewed on 24 Sep 2012
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Tjdyo reviewed on 06 Dec 2011
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.
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Drdul reviewed on 29 Nov 2011
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.
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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.
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Robk reviewed on 20 Jan 2011
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http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~pgut001/pubs/secure_del.html
or look at wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gutmann_method
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In conclusion, using the 7-pass DoD method would be equivalent to OS-X's "Secure empty thrash"?
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Harv reviewed on 12 Dec 2010
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!
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Rather than blaming another or responding with smoke & mirrors, he acknowledged the issue & took full responsibility for the inconvenience, suggesting that:
"...the Preferences window can only be opened once a file (or the Trash) is in the process of being erased. When the Preferences window is open, it will suspend the erasing until the window has been closed. I recommend to start erasing a full Trash and then open the Preferences while the erasing has started.
This is certainly not an optimal way to open the Preferences, and I will look at a more elegant and user friendly solution to this problem."
Indeed I am pleased with support such as that!
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"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.
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If you are running Snow Leopard, the Install Plug-In script will install the Erase service into your home folder's Library/Services folder. Log out and log back in to refresh the Services. Once you select a file or folder in the Finder, right-click or select the Erase service from the Services menu.
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When Mac OS X's Secure Empty Trash erases, it will write over the same location on the hard drive 7 times, which is sort of like "scribbling" over the area so it makes it increasingly difficult to read what was originally on the hard drive.
Permanent Eraser makes use of a method (the Gutmann Method) to erase a file up to 35 times. This will not cause your hard drive to fill up or anything of the like.
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Should we delete this preference file? - com.edenwaith.permanenteraser.plist
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Roes rated on 28 Dec 2013
Audiomuso rated on 27 Mar 2013
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Roes rated on 18 Sep 2012
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Roes rated on 12 Jun 2012
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ImCr rated on 25 Feb 2012