How to secure erase an SSD using Mac Mini?

[kwijbo]

I've got an old SSD that I've sold and would like to secure erase it. The thread below seems to be the most in depth discussion of this and it seems that the ATA command is the only way to go. However I've got a Mini with no cd/dvd drive so I can't boot into Linux to do so.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/841182/

Is there a way for me to perform the ATA erase command via Terminal? I have a SATA/USB adapter and can connect the drive no problem. Thanks!

 

[Tyrone Chicken]

couldn't you do it through disk utility?
i'm not sure if you can do it with terminal but you can make a bootable linux usb

 

[kwijbo]

couldn't you do it through disk utility?
i'm not sure if you can do it with terminal but you can make a bootable linux usb

From what I understood in that thread, the secure erase function in Disk Utility works fine on conventional hard drives but doesn't do a true erase on SSDs.

I'll give a bootable USB a try later tonight.

 

[saulinpa]

Latest versions of OSX disable the security erase option in Disk Utility.
Try recovery mode's Disk Utility.

Since you are looking for a security erase, not performance another option is to just fill the drive with garbage and then format it.