on mac os x systems what utility can be used to encrypt / decrypt a users home directory

Have you e'er entered a personal identification number into a document? Did y'all e'er need to send a PDF that independent a piece of sensitive information? Wouldn't you sleep ameliorate knowing that equally of data on your Mac is secured by an unbreakable encryption standard?

And then perhaps you should know how to encrypt files on a Mac.

All your encryption needs are provided as free software on all Macs from OS X Panthera leo to macOS Catalina.

These kinds of encryption tools have typically merely been attainable via the concluding or command line. At present, but a few extra clicks are all that is required to add an encrypted folder to my Mac.

Possible Solutions

Here are some of the possible solutions for securing your sensitive identification and financial information using Mac tools provided for free:

1. Disk Utility to countersign protect folders.
2. FileVault for encrypting your entire computer.
3. Print to PDF to instantly secure any document for sending.

1. How to Encrypt a Binder on Mac Using Disk Utility

Disk Utility tin can create an encrypted file known as a deejay prototype. Information technology is similar to a zip file, but it utilizes the strongest Mac encryption method.

For example, this pick is how I would add an encrypted binder to my Mac to keep an annal of by financial records.

• Use Spotlight (push ⌘+infinite or click on the magnifying glass icon on the upper right corner of the menu bar to use Spotlight and type in Disk Utility and press Enter to open. Alternatively, you can open Deejay Utility it from the Applications > Utilities binder.

• From the menu, select "New Image" > "Image from Folder..." and choose the folder you desire to encrypt.

• Enter a name, tags (optional), and select where to salvage the deejay image.

• Choose an encryption level of 128-bit or 256-scrap.

• Click "Salvage" and and then enter a secure countersign. Warning: if yous cannot recall this countersign then you will not be able to open this folder.
• If it seems like the deejay image is stuck during this procedure, keep in mind that larger-sized files can take more fourth dimension to encrypt.
• The process volition alert you when washed. Select done and you volition have encrypted and password protected a binder.

This is an easy way to password protect large quantities of information that can and then exist easily moved and archived in external drives.

1 drawback of keeping backups in this way is that they are not easily updated when new data needs to be added to the archive. As time goes on, you may consider investing in backup software that will automate this process.

2. FileVault for Total-disk Encryption

With FileVault encryption on a Mac, a malicious party will not get any meaningful data if information technology's stolen. Every victim of estimator theft has lost their reckoner, but not all have to lose their identity to thieves.

Any Mac owner should take these few simple steps to ensure they have auto-encryption turned on using FileVault (10.vi Snow Leopard) or FileVault two (ten.7 Lion to ten.fifteen Catalina).

• Use the Apple tree Menu to open Organisation Preferences

• Select Security & Privacy

• Navigate to the FileVault tab and click on the lock on the bottom left. When y'all enter your password to unlock the setting, you will exist able to select "Turn on FileVault".
  • For computers with more than 1 user, yous may be asked to enter whatever passwords required by those users before being able to go along with the complete Mac encryption.

• You will be asked to create a recovery cardinal in case yous misplace your Mac's password and you lot cannot access your data. You lot have two options:
  • Y'all tin set this fundamental to be connected to your iCloud business relationship, in which you would not demand to store any special code and be able to unlock your Mac by logging into your iCloud business relationship on the device.
  • The other option volition generate a key that will display on the screen that you tin can write down or save deeply in another digital location. Note: don't save the recovery key on the Mac you are encrypting because then y'all will not be able to admission it when yous demand it.

• The encryption process will brainstorm and tin take several hours. It is required that your Mac is plugged in during the encryption and then plan your time accordingly.

As long as you lot tin can log in to your Mac, you lot will always have admission to your unencrypted files. With FileVault turned on, everyone else is kept out and no special tricks will let anyone access your data.

All macOS and Os Ten Yosemite or later on allows you to use an iCloud account as a fill-in method for unlocking your FileVault in case you ever forget your password.

iii. Create an Encrypted PDF for Emailing

Any file y'all store in a cloud service or transport via email is vulnerable to unauthorized access. In short, anyone who tin can steal the file tin can read information technology.

Chop-chop encrypt individual files on a Mac and make files readable simply by those with the countersign using the Print to PDF feature.

Impress and Save as PDF

• Select Print (⌘+P)
• Find and select Save equally PDF *(see note below if this is not an selection)

• Select a save location, fix a proper noun, etc.
• Choose Security Options...

• Enter a secure password

• Select Relieve and the file volition save every bit a secure PDF.

• Try to open up the file and you will be asked to enter the password before annihilation will brandish.

*Some programs will have their own printing options. To ensure access to the "Security Options..." you volition need to be using the system dialog impress options:

For case, Google Chrome will utilize its ain print options, but will take an pick to "Impress using organisation dialog". Select that selection and you lot tin resume the steps to a higher place.

The critical steps are choosing "Security Options..." and setting a password. This will encrypt the binder and make the saved file unreadable without the countersign.

Considering passwords are a critical part of keeping your Mac secure, nosotros can recommend these Top 10 Password Managers for keeping your passwords secure.

Note that the saved file will not replace the existing file. If you lot want to only take the secured file on your hard bulldoze then you will need to delete the original file once the encrypted file is generated. If you have encrypted your disk using FileVault (see steps in a higher place), then you will merely need to encrypt individual files on a Mac when you are saving them to 3rd party deject storage or sending them over a network.

Encryption Algorithms

The Advanced Encryption Standard has been the nationally recognized encryption specification since 2001.

The bones premise of strong encryption is to repeat the process of "shuffling" the data based on a key. By repeating the encryption process at least 5 times (64-bit key), the information would exist past the point of ever existence read.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) states that AES 128-bit key is applicable for "Undercover" data, just would recommend AES 256-fleck for all of your "Acme SECRET" documents.

The Bottom Line

You tin keep your data safe from unauthorized access using gratuitous tools on your Mac. It is a worthwhile use of your fourth dimension to always encrypt sensitive files earlier sending them via e-mail, and to go along your Mac data locked using FileVault.

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Source: https://www.macupdate.com/how-to/encrypt-files-folders-on-mac

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