Your Disk Is Full Mac: The Fallback Way

When giving away or selling your Mac, Apple recommends erasing it with Disk Utility first to ensure the security and privacy of your data. Since the encryption key is cryptographically secured by your password, you don't need to sign in to the computer. However, if you didn't use FileVault, your disk may be full of sensitive data that could be compromised without proper erasure.

Everything on the computer is useless without the encryption key, so simply erasing the key itself will ensure the security of your data. This process has always been somewhat unpredictable (YMMV), and variations may occur depending on your setup. I'm using a MacBook Pro with its built-in SSD, and running Disk Utility directly on the device.

In the past, erasing a computer was a lengthy process that involved randomizing the erase process to ensure complete deletion of data from older laptops with spinning magnetic hard disk drives. However, modern MacBooks with solid-state drives (SSDs) have removed this option. Despite this change, it's still essential to erase your data properly before moving on to a new device.

The convenience of laptop computers, especially those with large internal storage, is undeniable. We can now carry vast amounts of data in a single physical space that would previously require multiple magazines or devices. By erasing your disk properly, you'll ensure the security and privacy of your data, making it unreadable to unauthorized parties.

To summarize, using full-disk encryption (e.g., FileVault) is still the best way to keep your data secure, especially if you're giving away or selling your Mac. Erasing the computer's key will protect your data even if you lose the device or it's stolen.

Your disk is full mac