Selective Purge of Confidential Data From a Non-Volatile Memory

Method and apparatus for the non-destructive, selective purging of data from a non-volatile memory. In accordance with various embodiments, multiple copies of a selected set of confidential user data having a common logical address are stored to a confidential data portion of a non-volatile memory so that each copy is in a different location within the confidential data portion. A nondestructive purge of all said copies from the confidential data portion is carried out responsive to an externally supplied selective purge command so that all said copies are erased and other, non-purged confidential user data remain stored in the confidential data portion.