Is there a ssd with AES 128 or FDE Full Disk Encryption that works with MacBook Pro?

Question

Is there a ssd with AES 128 or FDE Full Disk Encryption that works with MacBook Pro?

I am moving from a PC to a MAC very soon. And as a photographer, I have releases that have confidential information. I require as a migration from PC( Vista Business) to MAC (OS X Mountain Lion) a hard drive with hardware encryption either with a hybrid or a solid state drive. Please help as I am lost with researching as to what actual product if any is available or in anyone's experience actually works. Thanks.

Posted on Sep 6, 2012 8:41 AM

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Answer 1

wjosten

Level 10

95,369 points

Sep 6, 2012 8:53 AM in response to Robert W Biggs

Built into Mountain Lion:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4790

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Answer 2

Sep 6, 2012 9:02 AM in response to wjosten

Thank you, but if I asked for software encrytion, that would already be answered. Again,

I require hardware encryption either with a hybrid or a solid state drive.

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Answer 3

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

Sep 6, 2012 9:12 AM in response to Robert W Biggs

There are external drives with hardware encryption and a physical key. In terms of something you can install internally, I don't know of one.

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Answer 4

wjosten

Level 10

95,369 points

Sep 6, 2012 9:19 AM in response to Robert W Biggs

Look here:

http://www.winmagic.com/products/full-disk-encryption-for-mac

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Answer 5

Sep 6, 2012 9:34 AM in response to wjosten

Again, that is software encryption, and like FileVault 2, can be broken http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2012/02/02/filevault-encryption-broken/

I found this out of five days searching,... finally!

the Kingston SSDNow V+100E 256 GB Drive with 128-Bit AES Encryption. The drive features full-disk hardware-based encryption, making it ideal for enterprise applications where security is paramount. Utilizing NAND flash technology and a SATA interface, the drive delivers data throughput of up to 3.0 Gb/s.

Direct Question... with this work with Mac OS X Mountain Lion? Who has the experience of working with a full disk HARDWARE not software encrypted drive.

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Answer 6

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

Sep 6, 2012 9:53 AM in response to Robert W Biggs

I have sad news for you. There are only two ways you're going to be able to boot from a hardware-encrypted internal drive, assuming such a thing is possible at all. Either (a) the key is cached in memory following a pre-boot authentication, or (b) you attach some kind of dongle to a USB port.

In case (a), you're just as vulnerable to DMA attack as you would be if you used FileVault.

In case (b), whoever steals your laptop will also get the dongle, and your data.

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Answer 7

Sep 6, 2012 10:18 AM in response to Linc Davis

(b) assuming I left the usb dongle and laptop together.. and unattended.

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Answer 8

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

Sep 6, 2012 10:30 AM in response to Robert W Biggs

assuming I left the usb dongle and laptop together.. and unattended.

You'd have to, unless you shut down every time you leave the laptop alone -- and in that case you're not vulnerable to the DMA attack, so you might as well use FileVault.

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Answer 9

wjosten

Level 10

95,369 points

Sep 6, 2012 10:42 AM in response to Robert W Biggs

Bother to read the bottum of that page:

Also Available: Hardware Encryption For Macs

SecureDoc for Mac is also the industry’s first solution to support and manage hardware-encrypted disk drives in Mac machines such as the Seagate® Momentus® FDE drives.

That's why I gave you the link.

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Answer 10

Sep 6, 2012 12:17 PM in response to wjosten

I did, but I also read the top " important please read message " for either version of os x and what I expressly stated the upgrade to mountain lion

IMPORTANT PLEASE READ

In the coming weeks Apple will release updates to their Mac OS X. These updates – Mac OS X 10.7.5 (Lion) and 10.8 (Mountain Lion) - could cause potential disruption to your device if you try to run SecureDoc or if you install SecureDoc, regardless of the version, on a device running either of these updates.

Until SecureDoc 5.3 SR4 is released, existing users should NOT upgrade to either version of OS X and should NOT install SecureDoc on either version.

Failure to do this may cause system instability. For more information please click here

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Answer 11

wjosten

Level 10

95,369 points

Sep 6, 2012 1:14 PM in response to Robert W Biggs

http://rjrinnovationsnews.blogspot.com/2012/08/securedoc-version-53-sr4-is-now.h tml

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Answer 12

Sep 6, 2012 8:06 PM in response to Robert W Biggs

Solved by the Genius at local Apple Store.

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Answer 13

jaś

Level 1

0 points

Aug 28, 2013 2:12 PM in response to Robert W Biggs

look here:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2739755?answerId=22835243022#22835243022

As far as a list of compatible OPAL drives is concerned:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2739755?answerId=22835243022#22835243022

or look for:

"SecureDoc Supported Self Encrypting Drives" - WinMagic

http://www.winmagic.com/login?return=aW5kZXgucGhwP29wdGlvbj1jb21fcGhvY2Fkb3dubG9 hZCZ2aWV3PWNhdGVnb3J5JmlkPTIwOmRhdGFzaGVldHMmSXRlbWlkPTMxMA==

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Answer 14

Jan 4, 2014 2:18 AM in response to Robert W Biggs

Robert, please share what the genius told you! I have the exact same question and I keep getting the same unhelpful advise about software-based encryption.

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Answer 15

Jan 9, 2014 1:45 PM in response to Howard the Duck

He advised researching what I exactly wanted. I was in the store and showed several sites with devices. I ended up going to MicroSemi 128Gb SSD. Its very expensive.

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