Secure Empty Trash seems to repeat itself

If I use "Secure Empty Trash..." I may (for example) see that 8 files are being deleted and the Trash is now empty. If I then delete 1 file and repeat the aforementioned process I see that once again 8 files are being deleted. Why would this happen? Thanks.

Hi,
That doesn't explain some of my own findings - the numbers don't add up. In my system, if only the startup disk is mounted and a single file is placed in the Trash, a secure-delete progress window will show four items being deleted.
Just mounting an additional external volume will add two items to the apparent number of items being secure-deleted for each such volume added, even though no files on the additional volumes are placed in the Trash to begin with.
Here are the tests I did.
Start with a text file that is on the DeskTop.
For each test:
1) duplicate the text file
2) move the duplicate copy to the Trash
3) secure-empty the Trash,
4) repeat step 1
5) repeat step 2
6) repeat step 3
Steps 1-3 were done to be sure the Trash folders were truly empty before performing the actual test in steps 4-6.
To be determined:
In step 6, after that single file has been placed in the startup volume's Trash, how many items does the secure-delete progress window show as being deleted?
Results:
In my system, if the test is run with no disk volumes other than the startup disk mounted, the secure-delete progress window shows four items being deleted.
If I run the test after first mounting a single external volume, then the secure-delete progress window shows six items being deleted. Again, just one file was in the Trash after step 5, the same as for the first test.
If I mount a second external volume and repeat the test, again with only a single file in the Trash after step 5, the secure-delete progress window now shows 8 items being deleted.
If I first mount all 15 of my external partitions and run the same test, again with a single file in the Trash after step 5, the secure-delete progress window shows 34 items being deleted!

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Is it possible to change zero options in "Secure empty trash"?

In the "Secure Empty Trash" feature in Tiger, is it possible to change the settings regarding how many times the file being deleted is zeroed out? Can I choose a 1-pass or a 7-pass, etc?

I don't think the "Finder" itself offers a way to change the number of overwrites performed during a "secure empty trash". Note that "secure empty trash" just calls '/usr/bin/srm', using the '-m' option -- 7 passes, including zeroes, FF, F6 and random according to the 'man' page.
Depending on what you are after, and being mindful of the different possible paths for items in the "Trash" in OS X, you might be able to use 'srm' directly, using the options of your choice. Though not recommended, if you get into hacking system files, the options probably can also be changed to some extent from there.

Secure Empty Trash just gets stuck

Secure Empty Trash doesn't work. it just gets stuck/crashes. Why is this?
10.9.5 mavericks

from Apple docs worked for me. Mine was \\\\\\\.\\\ derived from installing Windows.
If there are several locked files in the Trash, you can unlock them all at the same time at the command line. Follow these steps:
1. Open Terminal. It's located in /Applications/Utilities.  Type: chflags -R nouchg  Note: Type one space (not pictured) after nouchg in the line above, so that it ends in "nouchg ". Do not press Return yet. 
2. Double-click the Trash icon in the Dock to reveal the contents of the Trash. If necessary, arrange the Finder window so that a portion of the Terminal window is still visible.
3. Press the Command-A key combination to select all files in the Trash.
4. Drag the files from the Trash to the Terminal window.  Note: This automatically enters the pathname for each file. This eliminates the need to individually empty multiple Trash directories, particularly when multiple disks or volumes are present. 
5. Press Return. No special text message will be shown indicating that the command was successful.
6. Empty the Trash.
If the Trash does not empty or if you see a message in Terminal that says "usage: chflags [-R [-H | -L | -P]] flags file..." you most likely did not type the text in step 2 as indicated or did not leave a space. Repeat the steps if this happens.

How do i restore my secure emptied trash

heey
I was securely emptying my trash folder and i went to look into my iPhoto folder but nothing was there anymore, all my pictures and videos had been deleted. They must have got swipped when i was emptying it but is there any possible way of restoring these files as they were my only copies. Please help
Thankyou

Jasi1311 wrote:
I was securely emptying my trash folder and i went to look into my iPhoto folder but nothing was there anymore, all my pictures and videos had been deleted. They must have got swipped when i was emptying it.
First off, did you actually drag the iPhoto Library to the Trash perhaps with a bunch of other items?
Did you delete pictures/video out of iPhoto itself?
Look inside your Pictures folder and see if the iPhoto Library is there, if it is, then your pictures/video are likely safe, it's perhaps iPhoto needs to be reset.
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT2638
You can also right click on the iPhoto Library and "show package contents" and inside is a folder called Originals containing your original files.
When you Secure Empty Trash, especially with a large amount of pictures and/or video, it will take some time as it's scrubbing the files off the hard drive. Depending how far this process occured depends how many files were pernamently removed from the hard drive.
Because OS X was told "these files don't exist anymore" doesn't mean they are not still on the hard drive, as only their space is made available for new files.
Since you canceled the secure erase, many files could still exist on the drive, just that the remaining ones not scrubbed are soon to be overwritten with new files.
So it's important not to use the computer's boot drive until you can perform data recovery steps.
You can need to install OS X on a external hard drive, then boot from it, install Data Rescue $100 and then have it read the 1's and 0's of the deleted data that remains.
Create a data recovery/undelete external boot drive
You also can take the computer to a local PC/Mac repair shop and ask them to perform Data Rescue, however it's going to cost a pretty penny as they have to sell a hard drive to you and thier time and effort. $200-$300 or so.
If your pictures and video are not worth spending up to $400 for recovery, then your done.
Always have a backup plan in place to "undelete" or boot the computer if it's not operating.
Most commonly used backup methods

Secure Empty Trash Progress Bar Stalls With 4 Items Left

Greetings All,
I've recently installed OS X 10.5.1 and have had pretty good luck. I just tried to use the Secure Empty Trash function and the progress bar seems to be stalled with 4 items left. The trash can did "empty" with the associated sound effect when the bar hit 4 items, but that's as far as the bar will go. I've forced quit and have restarted the computer, added more trash, and run Secure Empty Trash again, but it always seems to stall out with 4 items left
Is there a way to make it go all the way to 0 items?
Where can I look to confirm if any trash is actually left (the trash can is empty)?
How can I be sure all my trash was securely destroyed?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

Thank you very much for this input... it is helpful. I downloaded the program and I can see how it will be extremely handy. I didn't realize that there were enough problems with the finder emptying trash to result in programs written to help with it. It must be a large enough problem in the big picture, though.
I looked through the developer's site and didn't see an indication regarding the type of emptying this program does (i.e. secure or normal). I am assuming it's a normal emptying of the trash.
Thank you again.

Why Does Leopard Take an Eternity to Secure Empty Trash

Hi Gang
With regard to Leopard 10.5, in a Single 1.8 G5, I researched this a bit, and forgive me but, it's hard to believe I'd have to resort to 3rd party 'Super Trashers', just to get the job done.
After comparing the time it took 5 small files to empty in Leopard as compared to 1,500 Video Files in Tiger, it was astounding!
Sooo... here's what I've done (so far); with respect to the System Drive and 2nd internal storage drive 'Sharing & Permissions', I clicked on 'Get Info' and made sure that everything is now set to 'READ & WRITE'
I don't know if this will make any difference - we'll see ...
Any other ideas?
Thanx
Mike

Thanx guys
Whatever the reason, I've convinced, (at least in my particular case), there is a DEFINITE difference between my two systems. Secure Empty Trash in Leopard is problematic.
Since I don't have anything important in this particular system, I'm willing to do a fresh install of Leopard. But as I said, there was already a fresh install performed in this 160 Gig 2004 system drive.
I'll stick with Tiger in my other system. This is where I have all the applications I need for the documentary. I treat this system with loving care. The other G5, (with Leopard), is used for other supplemental back up tasks. But again, performing Disk Permissions is 3 times as long, and Secure Empty Trash NEVER completes itself. (I realize one has nothing to do with the other)
I've heard of other 3rd party applications getting the job done, (info on the forum). Anyone know which one works best?
http://www.nonamescriptware.com/?page_id=5
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/trash.html
Thanx
Mike
http://www.ww2survivorstories.com/

Secure Empty Trash is RAM-hog, or something...

All I want to do is secure empty trash some files larger than 700 MBs and when I do this, everything lags. I open activity monitor (slowly) and cpu is at 100 %. I try to stop the secure empty trash. nothing. So I relaunch Finder, secure empty trash again, again cpu at 100 %. Anyone had this problem?

secure empty trash works by overwriting the existing data 7 times in addition to unlinking it. this does seem to occupy the CPU quite heavily on my computer. also doing it with a 700MB file will take A LONG time. I would stay away from it unless there is an extremely compelling reason to use it.
Message was edited by: V.K.

Why does SECURE EMPTY TRASH take so long (several days)?

I am using OS 10.3.9. I didn't empty the trash for quite a while, and several days ago clicked SECURE EMPTY TRASH. The emptying process began but has not finished even now! Does it take THAT much longer when one uses SECURE EMPTY TRASH? I see that the little message window for Trash says:
Item to delete: 114,158 This number hasn't gone down now for several minutes.
Several times I have stopped the Empty Trash process to shut the computer down or just because I wanted to stop it, but it seem to me that after "Emptying the Trash" has been going on for so long, it ought to be finished by now. I welcome any sunlight you can shed on this. Thank you.
— Lorna in Southern California

When you choose to Secure Empty Trash, the system
must overwrite the area where those items area a
minimum of 7 times for it to be considered secure.
When you have that many files in the Trash, this can
take quite some time.
So, unless you have something that is confidential in
the Trash, your best option is to Empty Trash
normally.
Mulder
If my answer helped solve your problem, please
consider awarding some points. Why
Reward Points?
OK, and thank you. You have answered my question; I now won't be worrying that something is awfy. The Secure Empty Trash is still emptying and it is down to about 77,000 items. I have clicked the YES, MY QUESTION HAS BEEN ANSWERED button and I appreciate your reassurance.
— Lorna in Southern California

Secure Empty Trash difficulties

Anyone have a guess why Secure Empty Trash has stopped working in my Admin account, yet still works perfectly in the other four standard user accounts on the family Mac?
In my Admin account, starting a Secure Empty gives me the progress bar which just hangs there...forever. The hard drive is crunching away like crazy but the progress bar barely moves. Eventually, it will empty. But we're talking something on the order of 15 minutes or more to delete no more than 4 files. The size of the files seems not to matter. It will take aeons to secure delete 200k as well as 2M. The crunching of the HD is very concerning.
I've searched this board and found very little to go on. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
JimC
G5 dual 2G Mac OS X (10.3.9)

JimC,
Perhaps Solving Trash Problems, by Dr. Smoke may provide some clues for eliminating your difficulties.
;~)

Secure Empty Trash fails

When trying to Secure Empty Trash if it contains locked files I select the "Remove Locked Items" option but the action fails and the trash isn't emptied. It can be emptied using the "Remove Locked Items" option and just using the normal empty trash option.
Additionally it reports locked files in trash which on examination via "Get Info" are unlocked - these can't be securely emptied either but again can be using Empty Trash.
It seems therefore that there might be a problem with secure empty and files which are or have been locked.
I did a clean install of Yosemite and transferred user files back from a Time Machine backup. All went perfectly - no other issues.
I have tried new files i.e. ones created under Yosemite rather than Mavericks - no difference.
I have repaired permissions via disk utility and reset home directory permissions and ACL's which has made no difference. It happens on more than one account.
Anyone else experienced this or could try it for me?
Thanks

I've bumped this as I'm still having problems and wonder if someone could try and secure empty trash with a locked file in it and see what happens. I've created a new account and the same thing happens.
If someone could create say a simple text file, lock it via the "Get Info" option and then delete it to trash. Try to secure empty trash and see if the "remove locked items" works and the trash is emptied and the locked file removed.
Much appreciated if someone could do this
Terry

Secure Empty Trash vs Empty Trash, Hangs and Advanced Finder Pref.

I've had my intel-based iMac for a couple of weeks and I've been getting a frequent hanging trash problem that causes me to restart my Mac far too often. Restarting the iMac fixes it but I don't know what the problem is to begin with. It seems to happen when I have over 10MB in the trash and I choose "Secure Empty Trash."
While I'm on the topic of "Secure Empty Trash," won't "Empty Trash" do the same thing SECURELY since I've previously checked it off in my Finder Preferences? Is the "double selection" of secure empty trash part of the problem (i.e. selecting it when I go to empty the trash as well as having it selected in my finder preferences)? Any and all help is appreciated.

Yes it's the same if you choose Secure Empty Trash from the Finder or if you have it selected in the Finder advanced preferences. The thing is electing to Secure Empty the trash may take a lot longer to empty because it does either a 7 pass or 35 pass write over the files and that can take a long time to do for large files.
As a test it took me just over 3 minutes to Secure Empty a 175MB file.
Something you should do though seeing as you've had to forcefully shut down your iMac a few times is Run Disk Utilities. Open up Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility select your hard drive on the left and under the First Aid tab click on Repair Disk Permissions then Verify Disk.
George

Does Using Secure Empty Trash Put Stress on My Hard Drive?

Whenever I empty my trash I use Secure Empty Trash even if it's not for sensitive files. Are there any benefits to using this feature - does it free up better hard drive space for new files to be saved to than just Empty Trash? And does it put a lot of stress on my hard drive as it works harder emptying trash this way? I'm using an early 2008 15" MacBook Pro with Leopard 10.5.8 but will soon be upgrading to Snow Leopard.

If you are secure deleting very large blocks of files, as you've already seen, sure it does put more stress on the system - takes much longer, has the HD doing a lot of writes to disk, produces more heat, ramps up the fans, etc.
To what extent that ultimately makes in the lifespan of the drive is hard to say - depend how often you use secure delete, and on how much data at a time. Secure deleting a handful of personal files at a time seems pretty trivial to me, but routinely secure deleting thousands of files taking up Gb's of disk space may cause a drive to fail earlier than it otherwise might.
Basically, I only use it when I am deleting personal data files that I specifically want to be unrecoverable (eg. I have a copy of my will on my MBP, whenever I have made changes in my will, I have secure deleted the old version as I do not want it to be recoverable, same thing for old tax records outside the statute of limitations for the IRS to poke back into).

EmptyTrash & Secure empty Trash

I recently purchased/downloaded a(non Apple) Application from its manufacturer. After installation and a few days working with same , I began to think that perhaps the download was in some way corrupt....mainly due to freeze up and a few functions not working properly.
I subsequently received the Application CD in post so decided to TRASH the download and re-install from CD.
This worked fine ...except that all of my original settings and preferences were on the newly installed S'ware.....in fact everything was exactly the same..so I repeated the process, with exactly the same result, so as far as I could gather the CD had not really installed at all, but the original download(in trash) had re-installed.
This begs a few questions..........
How does this happen ?
Would OSX recognise that the same App. was in trash & re-install it ?
Should I have emptied trash first ?
Should I "Secure" empty trash?
My next question is out of personal interest........
When a file etc is trashed in normal way...is the HD freed up of space ?
or...Is it necessary to 'Secure' empty trash to free up HD space ?
I realise this is not a life and death issue...but still important to me.
Thank you
L-Max
IMac-G5 Mac OS X (10.4.2) Also PCWinXP2 user new to Mac & MBox

your settings remained the same because although you deleted the app, you didn't delete the preference files which keep your settings.
This begs a few questions..........
How does this happen ?
it doesn't.
Would OSX recognise that the same App. was in trash & re-install it ?
nope.
Should I have emptied trash first ?
nope.
Should I "Secure" empty trash?
nope.
My next question is out of personal interest........
When a file etc is trashed in normal way...is the HD freed up of space ?
yep.
or...Is it necessary to 'Secure' empty trash to free up HD space ?
nope. "secure" will overwrite garbage on top of the file to make it unreadable and unrecoverable. space is never truly blank on a disk. if you trash something, you are telling your system "this space is now available" that is now considered "empty" space on a disk.
you can use recovery utilities to recover trashed files as long as nothing else has been overwritten there, but if you "secure" empty trash, it's toast.

Securely emptying trash after having emptied trash (unsecurely)

Hello. I've emptied my trash as I'm parting with my MacBook, but following this I realised that I should have securely emptied the trash. Now I want to restore the emptied trash for the purpose of securely emptying the trash, but it seems quite impossible. Is there an easy way to do this?
I would wipe the mac but I don't have the OS CDs as they weren't sold with the Mac as everything was pre-installed.

Grant Bennet-Alder wrote:
Confidential to Julian Assange and Ed Snowden: YOU guys need to do the 35 passes with random data.
Faster and safer to replace the drive, that 35x takes weeks to complete and isn't available anymore only on Snow Leopard and for a time hard drives were small.
Brian Manning started out with 35x, but it was taking so long he canceled and went with 0x and that's not strong enough as the government used magnetic techniques to read the deleted data.
7x is DOD approved method, that's what Secure Empty Trash does by default.
However the problem with that is it only does what's in the Trash, not hidden files, caches etc., for a better method the entire drive or account should be scrubbed with free space 0x-7x.

Is it possible to create a secure empty trash shortcut in file menu?

I have second finger click enabled so that I can quickly move files to the trash bin from the contextual menu. This is fine and dandy, however, for files containing sensitive informaton, I'd like to have a "Secure File Delete" option available (file bypasses the trash bin and is wiped after selecting said option).
I've searched the threads and checked system prefs. Only options are to change "empty trash" to "secure empty trash". This wouldn't work as I have more files that are typically trashed and not wiped. It'd be nice to have it available as a convenience I suppose
I know theres an app in the app store that offers this functionality. It's $3-4.
So my question...is it possible to create such a contextual menu option on my own?
heres an example of what I'm ltalking about...

Create a new Service in Automator.
Set it to receive files an folders in the Finder.
Drag in an Ask for Confirmation action if you want it.
Drag in a Run Shell Script action from the Utilities section of the Library.
Set it to Pass Input as Arguments and Replace the code with:
srm -r "$@"
--That's ess-ar-em for Secure ReMove (just copy and paste)
Save it and it will show up in the Services menu when you right-click on an item in the Finder.
There are options you can add to it like -s for simple, -m for medium. The default (without options) is 35-pass Gutman.
You can see what options are available by opening Terminal and typeing
man srm
Hit space to scroll down. Q to quit the man page.
The Verbose and Interactive options won't work since you can respond.
Note that depending on the algorithm chosen, it may take some time for the file/folder to disappear from the Finder view.

Secure Empty Trash seems to repeat itself

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