What is the most secure way to reset my Intel-based iMac running Sonoma back to factory settings to prepare it for giving it away?

[Guest /u/CarlaWasThePromQueen]

I'm giving my older iMac to a family member's kid that is in high school. I'm just curious what is the absolute best most secure way to reset it? I turned FileVault on yesterday and it is almost done doing its thing after about 24 hours. I have already done a time machine restore on my new iMac and everything is good to go. This computer was used in my office with patient HIPAA data so I just want to know I am safe.

 

Turning on FileVault may have been pointless but I found some things online that made it seem like that was even more secure. Not that I have any worry that the hard drive would be removed and there would be an attempt to recover data, but I just want the peace of mind of knowing I reset it in the more secure way possible.

 

I will be logging out of iCloud, logging out of Music and Messages, and turning off find my mac and all of that.

 

Years ago I recall seeing an option that took much longer to reset computer to factory settings and remove all data, but I do not remember where that option was during the process.

 

submitted by /u/CarlaWasThePromQueen

[link] [comments]