Locked mac files on external HD veiwable on Windows 7 netbook.

Question

Locked mac files on external HD veiwable on Windows 7 netbook.

Long question sorry.

I have a large external HD.

Its partitioned into 2, one for a complete back up of my mac hard drive.

The other for all my other files I share between computers.

My problem is the back up section is locked to system and admin group so its not viewable by other users on my Mac.

But ALL the files are viewable and read writeable when I plug the machine into my Windows netbook.

ALL info including all users locked files, pictures etc everything that is locked and cant be viewed on a mac.

Even every Admin locked file is available to read and write on the Windows machine!!

How do I make this partition un viewable on a windows machine?!

Thank you.

G5 imac, Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Posted on Dec 11, 2010 8:48 AM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

239,111 points

Dec 11, 2010 10:37 AM in response to Murphyincalgary

Hi Murphy,

What Format is this external drive?

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Answer 2

rccharles

Level 6

12,957 points

Dec 11, 2010 10:43 AM in response to Murphyincalgary

Physical possession of an external harddrive or even harddrive means that you can read the data on the harddrive. You will find the data readable when placing the external drive in other Linux, Mac, or Windows system.

In mac OS, do a get info on the partition. you will notice that there is a check box to ignore permissions.

In order to avoid being able to read the data, you need to encrypt the data. Use disk utility to create an encrypted folder & place on external hd. Place data in this folder.

I do not recommend this solution. It will make recovery more difficult. You best be is to secure you external hd when not in use.

Robert

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Answer 3

Dec 11, 2010 11:45 AM in response to rccharles

The External HD is formatted in Mac OSE Journaled for the back up partition,

And in Mac OSE for the data partition.

My windows computers have Macdrive 8 installed for reading and writing to mac drives.

If I encrypted the partition what problems could I have with data recovery?

Is that folder then only accessible on my computer or my Admin login etc?

Thanks again.

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Answer 4

BDAqua

Level 10

239,111 points

Dec 11, 2010 12:47 PM in response to Murphyincalgary

Encryption is the way to go then, the data will only be viewable/mountable with a Password.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1578

If I encrypted the partition what problems could I have with data recovery?

Well, encrypted data is more difficult to recover because it doesn't really contain any files that could be seen/recovered individually, it's often all or nothing.

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Answer 5

Dec 11, 2010 12:57 PM in response to BDAqua

Would I be able to put the HD partition disc image inside an encrypted disc image folder?

Or is the only way to put an encrypted disc image inside the HD partition image and copy everything over to that??

Thanks again.

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Answer 6

Dec 11, 2010 12:59 PM in response to Murphyincalgary

Sorry scrap that I have just realised the disc image would then be saved onto my Mac hard drive and not the external HD!!!

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Answer 7

BDAqua

Level 10

239,111 points

Dec 11, 2010 1:10 PM in response to Murphyincalgary

Sorry scrap that I have just realised the disc image would then be saved onto my Mac hard drive and not the external HD!!!

Nope, you can select where to create it at in the first place or simply move it to your external drive/partition, then open it & Move your Files/Folders to it.

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