Anyone using SecureDoc Full-Disk Encrypti…

Anyone using SecureDoc Full-Disk Encryption for Mac from WinMagic?

Currently I am using Mac OS X v10.5 on a MBP and want to upgrade to Snow Leopard. I use PGP full disk encryption.

I do not want to wait anymore for PGP v10 before I can upgrade to Snow Leopard. In my search for a replacement for PGP I found SecureDoc Full-Disk Encryption for Mac from WinMagic.
https://www.winmagic.com/products/full-disk-encryption-for-mac

They claim to be Snow Leopard compatible
https://www.winmagic.com/kw/download.php?url=/datasheets/securedocmac_brochure20090925a.pdf

I have two questions:

1) Does anyone have experience with SecureDoc Full-Disk Encryption for Mac from WinMagic?

2) Where can I buy one? PGP has a store where I ordered my copy of the software. But I can't find a store anywhere for SecureDoc. With some trouble I found a reseller in the Netherlands, but they don't reply to any questions.

MacBookPro 15", Mac OS X (10.6)

Posted on Nov 13, 2009 2:48 AM

Mar 1, 2010 7:28 AM in response to guydavies

So, the upgrade from Software encryption to hardware encryption is actually a bit of a hassle. But once done, it works just beautifully.

The process I eventually followed was this...

1. Backup encrypted drive using SuperDuper! This creates a non-encrypted drive but, critically, it still includes remnants of the encryption machinery. We'll get back to this later.

2. Replace the drive using the instructions on iFixit. It was surprisingly easy and, with the right tools (Philips 00, Torx 6 and a plastic lever) it only took less than 30 minutes to have the disk changed and be all back together again.

3. Attach your backup disk and boot to it.

4. Restore from your backup to the new disk.

5. Reboot, removing the backup disk and ensuring that you go to the internal disk.

6. IMPORTANT: Go into /Applications/WinMagic/SecureDoc and manually run uninstall script1.sh. This results in a reboot. DO NOT bother trying SecureDocUninstall. It will ask for your passphrase, which it cannot actually check so it consistently fails.

7. ALSO IMPORTANT: Go back into /Applications/WinMagic/SecureDoc and manually run uninstall script2.sh. I recommend another reboot.

8. Now go back to the installation package and run the installer again. Follow the instructions and within a few minutes (and a reboot later), you will have a completely encrypted drive.

I'm very happy with the whole thing now.

Interestingly, the FDE drive requires authentication after a shutdown or a sleep but not after a reboot. It seems that the reboot doesn't close the disk down completely so the passphrase is maintained.

Good luck.

Rgds,

Guy