compatible USB
I am looking for a 256 encrypted USB drive that is compatible with Catalina. I have tried a bunch but have run into problems running the included security software on my Macbook pro. Any suggestions?
MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.15
6 replies
The file system on the external drive will be formatted/reformatted to APFS. See this article: https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/encrypt-disks-memory-cards-protect-mac-mh40593/mac
If other (Apple) computers are running an older version of mac OS, then they will not be able to read the external drive.
How Good Is FileVault Encryption? I could not find an Apple webpage with a source for this. But, this article states:
FileVault uses an encryption method known as “XTS-AES-128 encryption with a 256-bit key” to encode the information on a disk.
Don't use the included security software. Use Disk Utility to manage your Mac connected drives.
Thank you for doing this research for me! I am wondering how readable the drive would be for regular PC's or do you think when its encrypted and reformatted that it is only readable by apple products? I think I need the drive to be readable by both and encrypted at a 256 -AES level which means that even if I did it this way it may not be enough.....despite the 256-bit key.
Yes, as far as my understanding goes, as the Apple article mentions, "Macs with older versions of macOS that don’t support the APFS format will not be able to read the device’s data.", so I'm lead to conclude: other OS (non-Apple OS) may also not be able to read it.
I wouldn't recommend this (above) method, then, for your specific criteria.
Keep me in the loop, if you find anything important related to this! Thanks!
I know that I can encrypt a drive from my macbook but it has to 256 level and needs to be able to read on other computers. DO you know if encrypting myself will allow for this or be at this level?
compatible USB