Should i encrypt my time machine backup

That makes sense : Can I do this myself, or is is it something an admin should do? You can do that by your self.

There is an "edit" link under the question above comments , that you can use to trim this question down. Then, research , and ask the separate questions, as comprehensive autonomous questions you could link to your other questions, if needed.

Add a comment. Active Oldest Votes. Improve this answer. Community Bot 1. How would I do that the key chain preferences seem a bit complicated? Have a look to my answer, I edited it to explain how to set different passwords. If the external drive that you are backup up to with Time Machine is already encrypted, then is Time Machine with encryption adding another encryption on top, which would seem like a waste of effort slowing things down?

IE if you have an encrypted external drive, should you then select "encrypt" with Time Machine as well, or not? I guess Time Machine would, as you say, encrypt the data and copy it to the already encrypted filesystem.

I would only select it if the backup contained very sensitive data disclaimer: I'm not a security expert - there may be better ways of protecting your data. Longer backup time is the price to pay, that's the tradeoff, but as Time Machine works in the background you shouldn't bother much about that as long as you don't do any CPU intensive work while the backup runs. The Overflow Blog. Encrypt your backup disk The best way to keep your backups secure is to encrypt your backup disk.

Select your backup disk, then click Remove Disk. Set up the disk again as an encrypted backup disk. See also Connect a new backup disk to your Mac. I had accidentally activated file vault when settings up my Mac book.

I have a password that I use to login on my computer. Since I still have my password ,what are my options at this point to keep my self safe from one day forgetting and not having access to my computer? George : Accidentally?

It is very easy to lose or have a MacBook stolen since you carry it in public. Perhaps your File Vault key is the same password? Perhaps you used that as well? Backing up your data is a good idea regardless anyway. I could turn it off, let it decrypt the drive, then turn file vault back on. Instead, you either have to perform a full restore of all your data or use the Finder to restore an individual file or folder.

There is one important thing to consider with a Time Machine backup of your FileVault 2 encrypted drive: The Time Machine backup isn't automatically encrypted. Instead, the default is to store the backup in the unencrypted state. You can change this default behavior easily using the Time Machine preference pane. Exactly how depends on whether you're already using a backup drive with Time Machine or are planning to use a new one.

FileVault 2 is true disk encryption , unlike File Vault 1, which only encrypts your home folder but leaves the rest of the startup drive alone. FileVault 2 encrypts the entire drive, making it a secure way to keep your data away from prying eyes.

This is especially useful for portable Mac users who run the risk of a lost or stolen Mac. If the drive in your portable Mac is using FileVault 2 to encrypt the data, you can be assured that while your Mac may be gone, the data is fully protected and not available to those who are now in possession of your Mac; it's unlikely they can even boot up your Mac. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data.

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