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HomeSecurityPermanent Eraser

Permanent Eraser for Mac

Securely delete files.

Free
In English
Version 2.9.1
4.4
Based on 22 user rates

Permanent Eraser overview

Permanent Eraser allows you to securely delete files. When you normally delete your files in macOS / 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 additional wiping methods such as the 3-pass DoE or 35-pass Gutmann algorithms. This utility overwrites your data multiple 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.

Note: Permanent Eraser is intended to erase files from mechanical hard drives, but is not intended for use on modern SSDs.

  • 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)
  • Localized for English, German, French, Dutch, Italian, Swedish, Traditional Chinese, and Welsh

What’s new in version 2.9.1

Version 2.9.1:
  • Fix for an occasional crash when erasing the Trash on macOS Mojave.

Permanent Eraser for Mac

Free
In English
Version 2.9.1
Write a detailed review about Permanent Eraser

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4.4

(41 Reviews of Permanent Eraser)

  • Comments

  • User Ratings

bikerbob38
bikerbob38
Sep 30 2020
2.9.1
0.0
Sep 30 2020
0.0
Version: 2.9.1
Does the caution remain not to use this app on an SSD? How about on a Fusion drive?
teamNOOB
teamNOOB
Jun 21 2019
2.8.0
5.0
Jun 21 2019
5.0
Version: 2.8.0
Great app that does what it says ??
tomtomklub
tomtomklub
Jun 10 2018
2.8.0
5.0
Jun 10 2018
5.0
Version: 2.8.0
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.
anonymous-fox-6287
anonymous-fox-6287
Dec 17 2017
2.7.3
5.0
Dec 17 2017
5.0
Version: 2.7.3
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!
Annie-Walker
Annie-Walker
Nov 20 2017
2.7.2
4.5
Nov 20 2017
4.5
Version: 2.7.2
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.
zlazkow
zlazkow
Jun 29 2023
2.9.1
5.0
Jun 29 2023
5.0
Version: 2.9.1
teamNOOB
teamNOOB
Jun 21 2019
5.0
Jun 21 2019
5.0
Version: null
tomtomklub
tomtomklub
Jun 10 2018
5.0
Jun 10 2018
5.0
Version: null
anonymous-fox-6287
anonymous-fox-6287
Dec 17 2017
5.0
Dec 17 2017
5.0
Version: null
Annie-Walker
Annie-Walker
Nov 20 2017
4.5
Nov 20 2017
4.5
Version: null
Fishboy
Fishboy
May 21 2017
4.5
May 21 2017
4.5
Version: null
trottta
trottta
Nov 9 2016
5.0
Nov 9 2016
5.0
Version: null
LS7160
LS7160
Dec 21 2015
1.0
Dec 21 2015
1.0
Version: null
elle69
elle69
Oct 8 2015
5.0
Oct 8 2015
5.0
Version: null
VRH
VRH
Feb 22 2015
4.0
Feb 22 2015
4.0
Version: null
Roes
Roes
Dec 28 2013
4.5
Dec 28 2013
4.5
Version: null
Audiomuso
Audiomuso
Mar 27 2013
5.0
Mar 27 2013
5.0
Version: null
Multimedia-Pimp
Multimedia-Pimp
Sep 25 2012
5.0
Sep 25 2012
5.0
Version: null
ImCr
ImCr
Feb 25 2012
4.5
Feb 25 2012
4.5
Version: null
Tjdyo
Tjdyo
Dec 6 2011
5.0
Dec 6 2011
5.0
Version: null
Drdul
Drdul
Nov 30 2011
5.0
Nov 30 2011
5.0
Version: null
SickTeddyBear
SickTeddyBear
Jul 14 2011
4.0
Jul 14 2011
4.0
Version: null
Robk
Robk
Jan 20 2011
0.5
Jan 20 2011
0.5
Version: null
Harv
Harv
Dec 12 2010
3.5
Dec 12 2010
3.5
Version: null
Gpstein1
Gpstein1
Feb 11 2008
5.0
Feb 11 2008
5.0
Version: null
Splain
Splain
Jan 8 2007
5.0
Jan 8 2007
5.0
Version: null
Guest
Guest
Oct 23 2005
5.0
Oct 23 2005
5.0
Version: null