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 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 M4, 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 for how to wipe Mac with Apple Silicon chip like M4, 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 to wipe Mac computer.

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 Mac 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 - Erase and Diagnose Mac^® Devices

BitRaser Drive Eraser for Mac has the dual capability of erasing data and diagnosing components on a Mac with M4, M3, M2, M1, and Intel-based Macs. The erased MacBook can be resold, reused & repurposed without the fear of any data leakage.

This deployment will guide you on erasing data using BitRaser Drive Eraser (Mac) from Mac devices including MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac Mini.

BitRaser Drive Eraser software can be launched by simply entering a command in the Terminal window. However, the method to access ‘Terminal’ differs between Intel and Apple Silicon Mac devices. The Mac device must be connected to the internet in order to perform erasure and/or diagnostics with this software.

To access Terminal on Apple M Series machines with M4, M3, M2, and M1 chip:

Shut down the Mac.
Press and hold the Power button until ‘Options’ appears.
Click Options, then click ‘Continue’.

To access Terminal on Intel Mac Devices:

Turn on or restart the Mac.
Immediately press and hold ‘Command (⌘) + R’.
Release the keys when the Apple logo appears.

On the Mac Recovery screen, go to 'Utilities > Terminal.' (Refer to Image 1)

In the Mac Recovery Screen, go to Utilities and Select Terminal
Image 1: Go to Utilities > Terminal

Note: The process of how to wipe Mac computer is the same across all Mac models once you’ve accessed the Terminal.

Follow the instructions below to erase the Mac device:

Step 1: Type this command: sh <(curl https://bdm1.co/m.xml) in the Mac terminal, and then press 'enter' (Refer to Image 2)

In the Mac Recovery Screen, go to Utilities and Select Terminal
Image 2: Type Command to Launch BitRaser Mac Diagnostics

Note: There is a space between sh and <.

By default, the software opens on the Erasure tab. If you wish to diagnose the Mac, you can begin with Step 3 of the Mac Diagnostics Deployment Guide.

Step 2: Select the drive listed on the main screen of the BitRaser Drive Eraser (Mac) to wipe. (Refer to Image 3)

Select Options, then Click Continue
Image 3: BitRaser Drive Eraser for Mac Main Screen

Step 3: Go to 'Settings' in the top right corner and select ‘Only Erasing’ to perform erasure without diagnostics. (Refer to Image 4)

In the Mac Recovery Screen, go to Utilities and Select Terminal
Image 4: Only Erasure Selected

Step 4: Click on the ‘Cloud’ icon on the top right corner of the screen. Enter your BitRaser Cloud credentials and click on ‘Login’ to fetch your purchased erasure licenses. After a connection is established, click on ‘Close’. (Refer to Images 5 and 6)

BitRaser Licenses for erasure and diagnostics will be deducted separately.

In the Mac Recovery Screen, go to Utilities and Select Terminal
Image 5: Enter BitRaser Cloud Console Credentials, then Click on Login

Image 6: Click on ‘Close’

You can now view the purchased erasure licenses in the bottom right corner of the screen.

Step 5: Select the erasure method and the verification type, then click on 'Erase' to wipe the Mac device. (Refer to Image 7)

Image 7: Select Erasure Method from the Drop-Down Menu

Step 6: Click on 'Yes' to confirm starting the Mac erasure process. (Refer to Image 8)

Select Erasure Method, Verification Type, then Click Erase
Image 8: Click 'Yes' on the Dialog Box

You can view the erasure progress on your screen. (Refer to Images 9 and 10)

: Click Yes To Erase Mac Device
Image 9: BitRaser Mac Erasure Progress Screen

: Click Yes To Erase Mac Device
Image 10: BitRaser Mac Erasure Complete

Step 7: Click on Report to view the detailed erasure report and save the certificate of destruction. (Refer to Image 11)

These documents are also saved to your BitRaser cloud account.

: BitRaser Screensaver Erasure Completed Screen
Image 11: BitRaser Mac Erasure Report

You have successfully erased the Mac device using BitRaser command via Terminal. To make the erased MacBook functional, you’ll need to reinstall macOS.