If you have trouble keeping track of passwords, or if you just don’t want to bother, consider your strategy and whether it’s worth the effort. Having said that, FileVault adds a layer of complexity to the operation of your computer by enforcing a password you have to remember to access the drive. If you’re using your computer to access sensitive data, or if you just don’t want your information to fall into the wrong hands, FileVault gives you peace of mind you won’t have otherwise. Should I Use FileVault?įileVault protects your data from prying eyes. Here’s how to check.įileVault’s status will be displayed in this window. So you may already be using FileVault even if you don’t know it.

That’s different than it used to be-the system used to keep FileVault off unless you turned it on. When you first set up a new Mac, the initial setup process will ask you if you want to turn on FileVault. There’s another good reason to use FileVault, too: Apple recommends using it if you want to securely delete data off an SSD-equipped Mac once you stop using it. This makes FileVault a great choice if you handle sensitive information, or if you are concerned about the security of the data on your Mac if it’s ever lost or stolen. One way or the other, without entering a password, neither you nor anyone else can get any meaningful data from that drive. Recent versions of OS X have also enabled you to use your iCloud account to unlock the disk.

The encryption is linked to a recovery key and a password that are generated at the time the disk is encrypted. Without this password, the data on the hard drive is unrecognizable. When FileVault is turned on, you are required to input a password whenever your Mac starts up. FileVault secures your Mac’s hard disk using XTS-AES 128 block cipher technology. It’s been around in its current incarnation since OS X 10.7 Lion shipped in 2011. What Is FileVault?įileVault is Apple’s term for disk encryption. What does that mean, though? Let’s demystify FileVault and find out more about how it works with things like Backblaze. FileVault keeps your data safe if your Mac is ever stolen or lost by encrypting the hard drive.

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