Erasing Files Stored By Time Machine

Posted:
in macOS edited January 2014
there are times when you really want to totally erase a file or application, permanently - "Secure Empty Trash." Will that also wipe it off and overwrite the Time Machine backup disk?

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 10
    Ahhh I see so you're wanting to delete porn...
  • Reply 2 of 10
    I don't thing SET will do it, but according to Apple's site:



    "You can also delete a single file or folder that you’ve been backing up — and delete it from all of your backups going back in time."
  • Reply 3 of 10
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ChrisDaMacMan View Post


    Ahhh I see so you're wanting to delete porn...



    hahahahaha
  • Reply 4 of 10
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ChrisDaMacMan View Post


    Ahhh I see so you're wanting to delete porn...



    While that is funny, I can see the OP's point. For instance, if I want to delete some old financial or client files that I no longer need, I do not want a copy hanging out in TM that I will, no doubt, forget about.



    I hope that Apple did think about some of these issues (and I'm betting that if they didn't we will see updates addressing them shortly).
  • Reply 5 of 10
    alfiejralfiejr Posts: 1,524member
    wouldn't be dumb enough to save porn to start with, MacMan, maybe that's your problem. too many funky bugs in that stuff.



    ever been sued? basic rule in business in the digital age is to be careful with universal backup (and what you write in emails of course). even 'working drafts' can come back to haunt you.



    thanks for the good info Agent Orange. hope they link that to SET (or in the same dialogue box) to make it easy.
  • Reply 6 of 10
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Alfiejr View Post


    wouldn't be dumb enough to save porn to start with, MacMan, maybe that's your problem. too many funky bugs in that stuff.



    ever been sued? basic rule in business in the digital age is to be careful with universal backup (and what you write in emails of course). even 'working drafts' can come back to haunt you.



    thanks for the good info Agent Orange. hope they link that to SET (or in the same dialogue box) to make it easy.



    This can be achieved when in the Time Machine browser using the Finder's Action Menu item "Delete All Backups of "your file name". This will cause Time Machine (backupd process) to go thru all the backups and remove the file or folder you've selected.



    Apple and testers did think of this one.
  • Reply 7 of 10
    Well, if you had one file to delete, this feature may be good enough. But you got so much "hot" stuff, which you may not even remember the names, you'd better erase the backup.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by bxs6408 View Post


    This can be achieved when in the Time Machine browser using the Finder's Action Menu item "Delete All Backups of "your file name". This will cause Time Machine (backupd process) to go thru all the backups and remove the file or folder you've selected.



    Apple and testers did think of this one.



  • Reply 8 of 10
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Marbles View Post


    Well, if you had one file to delete, this feature may be good enough. But you got so much "hot" stuff, which you may not even remember the names, you'd better erase the backup.



    LOL - if it's that "hot" then best not to backup anything. Just throw it into /dev/null IMMEDIATELY or simply avoid the "hot" stuff.
  • Reply 9 of 10
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by bxs6408 View Post


    This can be achieved when in the Time Machine browser using the Finder's Action Menu item "Delete All Backups of "your file name". This will cause Time Machine (backupd process) to go thru all the backups and remove the file or folder you've selected.



    Apple and testers did think of this one.



    Alfiejr's porn will be safe. Huzzah!
  • Reply 10 of 10
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Marbles View Post


    Well, if you had one file to delete, this feature may be good enough. But you got so much "hot" stuff, which you may not even remember the names, you'd better erase the backup.



    A good point about sensitive files. I wonder if the Finder Action Menu in Time Machine could remove files with a particular label and perhaps "created before such-and-such date".



    Sounds like a little pre-planning would be helpful.
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