Mac Disk Encryption
Locking your precious files, documents, photos, and other data through encryption is one of the safest ways to protect your personal information where only authorized users can access it. For the same task, Encryption software for Mac users are so reliable and trustworthy that they can save their personal details like bank information, transaction, passwords, etc. without worrying about its breach at all. How? Simply, locking it all with a Master Key.
Sep 11, 2018 FileVault is macOS’s built-in disk encryption feature. It's designed to encrypt your Mac's hard drive and all of the files located on the drive using 128-bit AES encryption with a 256-bit key. Once FileVault is enabled on your Mac, all existing data will be encrypted.
Why Do I Need Encryption Software?
Have you ever heard about identity theft? Identity theft has become common by hackers around the world to peek-in details like Credit Card number, SSN, Passport number, etc. so as to gain personal or monetary gains.
‘You can know more, become aware of it and its solutions with How To Prevent Identity Theft?’
In the same way, your files, documents, apps, websites, etc. can be noted by onlookers for their personal profits and need a reliable safety lock. And here, encryption software for Mac works thereby locking them all securely and placing a password before. Now no unknown user can open up any file in office or home and your data will remain intact the way it is.
Let’s just go through some of the best Mac security software for this year!
Best Encryption Software For Mac 2020
1. Cisdem AppCrypt: For Website & Apps Encryption
Cisdem Appcrypt is quite a distinct encryption tool that locks up various apps and websites, primarily. You can also secure your photos, Contacts, Quicken, iTunes, Mail, etc. on your Mac very easily.
Moreover, add those websites that need a blockage in your Mac by placing them on the blacklist. This might be one of the best ways to keep your kids away from accessing porn websites. Every time anyone opens it, a password will be asked which is known only to you.
Press Return. How to check for the permissions of applications in mac free. Type the following:sudo chmod -R 1777 /Users/Shared.
Other than that, you can also view the number of failed attempts some other user has made to access the blocked content.
Though Cisdem does not lock individual files but definitely the software that opens all those files.
2. VeraCrypt: For File Encryption
Provide your data high-grade protection using VeraCrypt which is considered as potent encryption software for Mac users. Very easy to use and backed up by on-the-fly-encryption or OTEF, it can also encrypt your folder in a customized manner. Yes, you can encrypt a portion of the file or the whole of it, as required.
Adobe muse 2017 patch for mac amtlib.framework download. Due to the tool, that enables you to pore and pan a selected section, and scroll through it, you’ll not waste time looking out the content of your website. You may shortly zoom out and pore on totally different areas in your website layout to accomplish fast edits. This feature permits you to convey attention to specific areas of the style read.
Interestingly, Veracrypt uses advanced security algorithms that immunes upcoming brute-force attacks in your Mac. You can also add details about your data including volume, size, location, etc. for better customization. This all will let you escape from any data leak or chances of theft, ultimately!
3. Concealer
Another Mac security software that uses AES-256 data encryption standard is Concealer! Now you can protect your credit card information, website passwords, software license codes, files, photos and much more by locking it all behind a master key. Apart from hiding data, you can also set up Note Cards as your journal within it.
It also auto-locks your files if your Mac has not been left open for a while. Your files will be organized within the Encryption Software at one end whereas you can assign separate passwords for your files individually, at another.
4. CloudMounter: For Online Data Encryption
Let’s call it one more solid encryption software for Mac, CloudMounter can organize cloud servers and keep them protected with secure passwords. These servers include Dropbox, Google Drive, FTP, FTPS, Amazon S3, etc.
Once the software is in your Mac, choose the file, select ‘Encrypt’ and type a password to verify it. Yes, it’s done! And guess what, this method is also freeing up space on your Mac while adding storage for the future.
5. FileVault: For Mac Disk Encryption
For all the Mac OS x 10.7 and above users, File Vault can act as powerful encryption software where encryption, as well as decryption, are on-the-fly. The software also allows you to prepare a master password for the case when the present one is lost or forgotten.
Its updated version called FileVault 2 protects your hard disk using the standard XTS-AES 128-block cipher that performs quite better than many other algorithms.
You can approach this method by selecting System Preferences > Security & Privacy > File Vault > click on the Lock icon. If there are more than one user accounts in your Mac, each of them has to enter separate passwords for file protection.
Conclusion
All the encryption software for Mac here is quite amazing so as to keep your sensitive information hidden. But if you ask us, in-built FileVault and Concealer are great options to be considered.
Though each of them has its own qualities, choose the one that suits your genre aptly. You can also check the best encryption software for Windows here.
All your comments and suggestions are welcomed in the section below. And in case you have any queries, send us a buzz! Also, do not forget to keep track of our YouTube and Facebook page for regular Tech-updates.
Overview
When you run the Stanford Whole Disk Encryption (SWDE) installer, the first step is Stanford's Device Enrollment app, a brief questionnaire that gathers basic information about your computer. If you already have responded to these questions, your previous answers are displayed.
After you complete the questionnaire SWDE steps you through the process of encrypting your hard drive. The installer checks your computer to make sure certain requirements are met, such as having BigFix software installed. You will need to fix, or let the installer fix, any items that are flagged before continuing.
Once your computer has been authorized to install encryption, you are prompted to enable FileVault 2, Apple's built-in encryption technology, to encrypt the whole disk.
Notes:
- Mac OS X 10.9 and above provide an interface to manage FileVault 2 that allows for the automation of storing recovery information for the encrypted drive.
- For machines running OS X 10.7 and 10.8 you'll need to manually turn on FileVault and run a tool to escrow your recovery key. See the manual activation instructions for assistance with the process.
- Boot Camp: FileVault 2 does not encrypt the Windows partition on systems running Boot Camp. Therefore, SWDE-compliant machines cannot run Boot Camp. OS X users needing to run Windows need to use VMware Fusion or Parallels.
Download software
System requirements
- Operating System: Mac OS X 10.9 and above is required.
You are strongly encouraged to back up your files before starting to encrypt. Code42 CrashPlan provided by University IT is the recommended backup service, but your local IT group may provide other options. CrashPlan encrypts your backups for secure storage and also provides the option of setting a secondary password to ensure that only you can restore the files.
- Before starting the encryption, make sure your computer is on AC power and has an active network connection.
- Depending on the size and speed of your hard drive and how many files are stored there, encryption can take from 45 minutes to two days.
- You may want to install the the software at the end of the day and let the encryption run over night. You can use your computer during the encryption process, but certain activities may be noticeably slower.
Device enrollment questionnaire
- Run the installer. A setup wizard guides you through the steps necessary to install the software.
- As soon as the software is installed successfully, a questionnaire regarding the use of this computer for Stanford business launches. Click Proceed Now.
- Next, choose whether or not you have a valid SUNet ID and then click Continue.
- If you have a valid SUNet ID:
- Enter your SUNet ID and password on the WebLogin screen.
- You will be asked to answer some questions about this device and the types of data that is accessed and stored on it.
- If BigFix, Stanford's patch management software, is not present on your computer, you are provided with an option to install it.
- If you choose to install BigFix now, select the group and (if applicable) the sub-group that describes where your computer is located and then click Continue.
- Your are asked to confirm whether you want to install BigFix. Click Yes to install BigFix.
- Enter your SUNet ID and password on the WebLogin screen.
- If you do not have a valid SUNet ID:
- If you are no longer affiliated with Stanford, the questionnaire is terminated.
- If this computer is used for Stanford work, the questionnaire is terminated. Someone with a valid SUNet ID needs to complete the questionnaire.
Encrypt
After the questionnaire is completed, SWDE steps you through the process of encrypting your hard drive.
Run the encryption installer
After the questionnaire is completed, SWDE steps you through the process of encrypting your hard drive.
- The starting screen of the encryption process displays. If you are ready to encrypt your hard drive, check I have a backup and understand the risks involved and wish to continue and then click Continue. (If your computer is already encrypted this screen does not display.)
- When the Welcome screen is displayed, click Continue.
- Next, a policy agreement is displayed. Read it and click Agree to accept the terms of the policy agreement and continue with the installation.
- If your computer is running OS X 10.9.5 or higher and it was encrypted manually (not using SWDE): the existing recovery key will be changed and the new key will be escrowed by BigFix. You are prompted to log in with your administrator name and password and then your new encryption recovery key displays.
- The installer runs a test on your computer to ensure that certain requirements are met before encrypting. For example, anti-malware must be installed and some network services need to be disabled.
- Click Fix Items to fix these problems.
- Click Continue if the Test Results show that no items need to be fixed.
- Click Enable FileVault 2 and then click Configure.
Enable FileVault 2
- You will see a message saying that you need to restart your computer after FileVault 2 is enabled. Click Yes.
- Enter your administrator account name and password and then click Unlock.
- Your recovery key is displayed. You will need this to unlock your FileVault 2 encryption if you forget your computer password. You can use the MyDevices service to recover your encryption key. Click Close.
- Click OK to restart your computer and complete the FileVault 2 configuration.
- Enter your account password and then click OK.
- A window displays the encryption status.
Note: You can use your computer while it is being encrypted.
If you need help
- If you encounter problems, please call (650) 725-4357 or submit a Help ticket. This service is provided 24 X 7 by University IT.