How Do I Password Protect My Lacie 500GB HD

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Level 1

5 points

How Do I Password Protect My Lacie 500GB HD

Just bought a 500GB Lacie external HD and I'm using 4/5 of it for TimeMachine and 1/5 for backing up some PC files.

How do I password protect this thing? If someone steals it, I don't want them gaining access. I've looked into Disk Utility, but the create new disk image thing doesn't make sense to me. Should I have set up the password as soon as I plugged it in to my MacBook? I don't recall getting any kind of formatting options and TM just started working. Do I have to erase and start over? Please help me. Thanks!

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Posted on Dec 5, 2007 10:28 PM

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Answer 1

Ewen

Level 6

11,805 points

Dec 6, 2007 2:26 AM in response to GDC

I don't recall getting any kind of formatting options and TM just started working.

Time Machine doesn't provide an option to password protect, so what you have observed is normal operating behavior. However, for security it is perfectly possible to utilize TM on a FileVault protected home folder, though TM only backs up during logout of the user (encrypted image can't be browsed and will require a home folder to restore). Another option is backup via disk utility (creating image of your internal HD) and here you have an option for 256-bit AES encryption.

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Answer 2

GDC Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 8, 2007 10:46 AM in response to Ewen

So what happens if someone steals my HD and connects it to their computer? How can I prevent them from accessing the contents?

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Answer 3

Dec 8, 2007 10:58 AM in response to GDC

Get a security lock. I use Kensington (http://www.kensington.com)

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Answer 4

nerowolfe

Level 6

13,090 points

Dec 8, 2007 3:40 PM in response to GDC

GDC wrote:
So what happens if someone steals my HD and connects it to their computer? How can I prevent them from accessing the contents?

I assume you are not using FileVault, and, to me, it is far more likely someone would steal your computer, not your harddrive.
Apple may take care of this encryption issue in the future, so you will be able to use FV and TM without any problems.

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