Mac: How to encrypt your hard drive
You can protect sensitive data on your Mac system from unauthorized access by encrypting your hard drive. MacOS comes with two programs for this purpose. With "FileVault" all your data from the user folder is stored encrypted. The second option is to create encrypted images, which you can then mount if necessary.
How to back up your data with "FileVault"
With the "FileVault" option, Apple wants to make the encryption of your data as simple as possible, yet effective. All files in the selected user folders are encrypted and are thus better protected against access by third parties.
- Select the "System Settings" menu item from your dock.
- Under the "Personal" heading, activate the "Security" button.
- Then click on "FileVault" in the upper tab of the window.
- Then you must first enter your administrator password by selecting the lock symbol in the lower left corner.
- Now click the "Activate FileVault" option.
- Next, a window will appear where you can select the desired users of your Mac computer for encryption.
- You will then be presented with a recovery key, which you should make a note of and keep in case you forget your password. Optionally, you can also back up your recovery key from Apple and provide three security questions.
- Now select the "Restart" item in the window that appears and after restarting your system you can follow the encryption process under "Security" in the system settings. The procedure takes at least 45 minutes. Your Mac is still usable while editing.
Encrypt important data with images
The somewhat more complex method within the Mac system includes encryption using images. Here you pack your data into the images and you can only view them if you mount them and enter the configured password. An exchange with other Mac computers is also not a problem.
- Select the Spotlight search in the top bar to the right of your user name (shortcut apple + space) and enter the keyword "hard disk utility".
- After you have opened the hard disk utility, activate the item "New Image" in the top menu bar.
- Various setting options then appear. Here you can configure, for example, the storage location, the type of encryption (128- or 256-bit AES encryption) or the image format. Select "Hard disk" as the partition format. Then confirm your entries with "Create".
- Now simply navigate to the respective storage location and open the created image. After you have entered your configured password, you can copy files to the image and manage them as you already know them from your hard drive.
The encryption was carried out on a MacBook Air with Mac OS 10.8.3.