Most risks arise from the black-market value of new technology, or from someone reusing your old hard drive. Most risks to your encrypted data don’t include someone searching for your passphrase. Peeking at it occasionally helps you remember it with perfect accuracy. Writing it down helps you memorize something you’d otherwise forget.
Why encrypt mac hard drive code#
You will pick a harder-to-guess code or passphrase if you don’t have to memorize it blind. If you have a choice, however, write it down and save it. You should follow the rules you are obliged to follow. There are hard-and-fast rules against writing such things down in some environments. Some security experts insist that such things should never be written down. Remember exactly how you spelled, capitalized, and punctuated the sentence. You may want to copy it down on a piece of paper and keep it in your wallet. The wizard will ask you to choose a “passphrase.” This is essentially a memorable sentence that should include some punctuation. Apple’s Time Machine backup system lets you select drive encryption when you start using a new drive for backups.
Laptops and desktops usually have a “wizard” to step you through the process. The block-by-block encryption often takes place in the background, so you can keep using your computer as the hard drive is encrypted. At some point you’ll have memorized the code perfectly, and you can discard that piece of paper.
If there’s a risk you might forget the lock code, write it down on a piece of paper and put it in your wallet. The phone will then allow you to enable encryption. Set up your phone to use a “lock code” or “password” or whatever the vendor calls it. Smart phones usually connect the encryption process to phone locking and unlocking. Maybe the failure is thorough enough to protect your data from recovery, but you just won’t know.
Some technically savvy people will say “Never mind. And don’t lose your passphrase! Why encrypt? Most desktop/laptop vendors also let you do this: Microsoft with BitLocker and Mac with FileVault.
Why encrypt mac hard drive android#
The better smartphones (notably Android and iOS) will encrypt everything on your phone if you use the right settings. This is reasonably safe as long as you don’t lose your device and/or its hard drive.īut when you replace your computer or hard drive, or (God forbid) someone steals it, your intimate financial details are “out there” unless your drive is encrypted. A typical personal computer, or smart phone for that matter, contains company names, account numbers, login credentials, and everything else an identity thief might need. Taxes, monthly budgets, check printing (on those rare occasions), and tracking numerous accounts – computers are far better than people at handling such details. If you have the technical interest to read this, you probably do a lot of your finances with your personal computer.