How to Completely Wipe a Mac Device using BitRaser Drive Eraser for Mac.

BitRaser ^® Drive Eraser - Deployment for Mac Device

This deployment guide will show you how to securely wipe your Mac device using the Cloud Variant - BitRaser Drive Eraser for Mac. You can erase data stored on the latest MacBook models with M3, M2, M1, T2, or Intel chips.

Note: The process for wiping Intel-based Mac differ from others with M3, M2, M1, and T2 chips, so follow the instructions accordingly.

In this article, we are ONLY erasing Intel-based Mac devices. If you are looking to wipe Apple Silicon chip-based Mac - M3, M2, M1, or T2, you may read our detailed Knowledge base articles to get started with the wiping process.

To wipe Intel-Based Mac, you need to follow 2 stages:

Stage 1: Create a Bootable USB
Stage 2: Connect a Bootable USB to your Mac Device to Erase

Stage 1: Create a Bootable USB

Step 1: Log in to your BitRaser Cloud Account using the credentials delivered to your email post-purchase of BitRaser Drive Eraser software. Go to the 'Download BitRaser' panel on the left side, and download the 'Cloud Variant Mac: BitRaser Drive Eraser' dmg file. (Refer to Image 1)

Download Cloud Variant BitRaser Drive Eraser Mac

Image 1: Download Cloud Variant BitRaser Drive Eraser Mac

The 'BitRaser USB Creator for Mac' application is installed using that you can create a bootable USB for erasing Intel-based Mac.

Step 2: Run the 'BitRaser USB Creator for Mac' application.

Connect the USB to your Mac and select ‘Other’, then click 'Next'.

The 'Other' option is selected to wipe Intel-based Mac devices. (Refer to Image 2)

Conversely, you can select the 'T2 & Above' option to wipe Mac with M3, M2, M1 & T2 Mac devices.

Select-To-Create-BitRaser-USB-For-Intel-Mac

Image 2: Select the Other option to Create BitRaser USB For Intel Mac Device

Step 3: Select the USB device attached to your Mac from the dropdown menu to make a bootable USB and click 'Create'. (Refer to Image 3)

Select-USB-For-Creating-Bootable-Media

Image 3: Select USB for Creating Bootable Media, then Click Create

Step 4: Click 'Continue' on the ‘Alert screen’ that informs you that all the data on the USB drive will be lost. (Refer to Image 4)

Note: The process of making a bootable BitRaser USB has started. This process can take several minutes to complete.

Click-Continue-On-Warning-Screen

Image 4: Click Continue on the Warning Screen

Your BitRaser bootable USB has been created and is ready for use. You can begin erasing your Intel-based Mac device by booting the machine with the USB-containing BitRaser Drive Eraser for the Mac application. (Refer to Image 5)

The BitRaser USB Creator allows you to customize BitRaser Drive Eraser Mac to automate repetitive tasks by configuring settings like erasure methods, verification types, auto-erase functionality, and more.

BitRaser-USB-Process-Completed

Image 5: BitRaser Bootable USB Creation Process Completed

Stage 2: Connect a Bootable USB to your Mac Device to Erase

To wipe an Intel-based Mac, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Connect the bootable USB drive to the Mac that needs to be wiped.

Power ON the Mac device. Press the ‘Option’ key to enter the ‘Options Menu’.

Step 2: Select the ‘Install macOS’ option and press enter. MacOS can vary based on the Mac device OS on which you are creating the bootable USB. In the present case, we created the bootable USB on macOS High Sierra, so it shows the ‘Install macOS High Sierra’ option in the below screen. (Refer to Image 6)

Image 6: Intel Mac Boot Menu Screen

Step 3: Next, you will see the ‘macOS Utilities’ screen. Go to ‘Utilities’ and select ‘Terminal’. (Refer to Image 7)

Select-Terminal-Mac-Utilities-Screen

Image 7: Select Terminal from Mac Utilities Screen

Step 4: In the ‘Terminal’ window, type, the command /volumes/bitraser/run then press the ‘return’ key. (Refer to Image 8)

Type-Volume-bitraser-run-in-Terminal

Image 8: Type volumes/bitraser/run in Terminal

Step 5: BitRaser Drive Eraser main screen is shown, listing the internal drive of your Mac. You can select the drive to proceed with the wiping process. (Refer to Image 9)

The software connects to the Wi-Fi automatically if the credentials were already saved on the Mac device that is getting wiped.

Select-Drives-To-Wipe-Click-Erase

Image 9: BitRaser Main Screen

Step 6: Log in to the BitRaser cloud account to download the erasure licenses you purchased.

Click on the 'Cloud' icon on the top right corner of the screen, and enter your BitRaser Cloud credentials shared in your e-mail. After entering credentials, click 'Login'. (Requires stable internet connection)

You will be able to see your erasure licenses displayed on the bottom right corner of the screen. (Refer to Image 10)

Enter-Login-Credentials-Click-Login

Image 10: Enter Login Credentials, then Click Login

Step 7: Select the Erasure method, drive to erase, and verification type, then click 'Erase'. (Refer to Image 11)

Select-Drives-To-Wipe-Click-Erase

Image 11: Select Drives to Wipe Erasure Method & Verification, then Click Erase

Step 8: An Alert window pops up, informing you that all the data on the selected drive will be wiped beyond recovery. Click on ‘Yes’. (Refer to Image 12)

Click-Yes-Warning-Screen

Image 12: Click Yes on the Alert Screen

You will be able to see the erasure progress on your screen. Once the process completes, your data and OS on your Intel-based Mac will be permanently erased. (Refer to Images 13 & 14)

Click-Yes-Warning-Screen

Image 13: BitRaser Mac Erasure Progress Screen

Click-Yes-Warning-Screen

Image 14: Erasure Progress on BitRaser Screensaver

A tamper-proof report of erasure will be automatically generated and uploaded to your secure BitRaser Cloud account, which can be accessed from anywhere and at any time (Internet connection required).

Note: To make the Mac working again you need to install the OS. You may refer to our article How to Reinstall macOS After Wiping Mac Machines to learn the steps to reinstall macOS.

BitRaser Drive Eraser - Deployment for Mac Devices

This deployment will help you to wipe your Mac devices using the Command entered in the Mac ‘Terminal’ with the help of BitRaser Drive Eraser for Mac. Using this deployment, you can erase data on Mac with M3, M2, M1, T2 & T1 chips and Intel-based Mac.

Let’s see the steps to erase Mac Devices:

Step 1: Turn on your Mac device and press the ‘Command (⌘) + R’ key until the ‘macOS Utilities’ screen is displayed. Click on ‘Utilities’ and then select ‘Terminal’ from the drop-down menu. (Refer to Image 1)

Note: The method for going to the Terminal varies for M3, M2, and M1 Mac.

For Mac with M3, M2, and M1 chips, long press the ‘Power’ button till the time you see the ‘Options’ menu on the screen. Select options and then click on ‘Continue’ to go to ‘Mac Recovery Screen’. In the Mac Recovery screen. Go to ‘Utilities > Terminal’.

Note: The process to wipe a Mac of any make and model is similar once you have reached the Terminal.

Select Options, then Click Continue

Image 1: On the Mac Recovery Screen, go to Utilities after clicking on Terminal

Step 2: Type this command sh <(curl https://bde.bitraser.com/mac.xml) in the Mac terminal, and then press the ‘return’ key. (Refer to Image 2)

Important: There is a space between sh & < (Refer to the Image below). For older Mac devices manufactured before 2015, replace HTTPS with HTTP in the above command.

Type Command in Terminal Window

Image 2: Type the Above Command on the Terminal Window

Step 3: You will see BitRaser Drive Eraser for Mac main screen listing your internal drive. Select the drive to wipe. (Refer to Image 3)

If your Wi-Fi credentials are saved on your Mac, then the BitRaser application will automatically connect to the Internet, otherwise, you can go to ‘Settings’ on the top right corner and enter your Wi-Fi credentials manually.

Type Command in Terminal Window

Image 3: BitRaser Drive Eraser for Mac Main Screen

Step 4: To fetch your purchased erasure licenses, log in to your BitRaser Cloud account.

Click on the 'Cloud' icon on the top right corner of the screen, enter your BitRaser Cloud credentials, and click on ‘Login’. After a connection is established, you can view the purchased erasure licenses on the bottom right corner of the screen. (Refer to Image 4)

Enter BitRaser Cloud Console Credentials, then Click Login, then Click Close

Image 4: Enter BitRaser Cloud Console Credentials, then Click Login

Step 5: Select the erasure method and the verification type, then click on ‘Erase'. (Refer to Image 5)

Select Erasure Method, Verification Type, then Click Erase

Image 5: Select Erasure Method, Drive, Verification Type, then Click Erase

Step 6: A dialog box will notify you that the selected drive will be wiped beyond recovery. Click on ‘Yes’. (Refer to Image 6)

: Click Yes To Erase Mac Device

Image 6: Click ‘Yes’ on the Dialog Box

Step 7: You can view the erasure progress on your screen. (Refer to Images 7 and 8)

: Click Yes To Erase Mac Device

Image 7: BitRaser Mac Erasure Progress Screen

: BitRaser Screensaver Erasure Completed Screen

Image 8: Erasure Progress on BitRaser Screensaver

Step 8: When the erasure process completes, both your data and OS on your Intel-based Mac will be permanently erased.

A tamper-proof report of erasure will be automatically generated. The detailed erasure reports and Certificate of Data Destruction can be downloaded from the secure BitRaser Cloud Console.