FileVault to encrypt just a single folder?

Question

FileVault to encrypt just a single folder?

I need to take my Mac in to be serviced. Maybe I'm being obsessive-compulsive, but I have some personal data on my HD that I would rather not be stumbled upon, even accidentally, say during a Spotlight search, etc.

At first I thought FileVault would be ideal for this purpose, but then I discovered that 1) FileVault encripts the ENTIRE drive; it can't be used to just encrypt a single folder, and 2} it is disabled when the Mac is logged into, which of course the technician must be able to do.

Is there a way to set FileVault to encrypt just a single folder, and if not, is there another cheap utility that will? I don't need industrial-grade encryption, just protection from casual browsing.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Apr 22, 2013 9:29 PM

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Answer 1

Niel

Level 10

727,175 points

Apr 22, 2013 9:39 PM in response to Timothy Arends1

Click here and follow the instructions. Don't add the encrypted image's password to the keychain.

(81472)

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Answer 2

Apr 23, 2013 8:06 AM in response to Timothy Arends1

Why not just delete the folder, and restore it afterwards?

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Answer 3

BobHarris

Level 9

53,267 points

Apr 27, 2013 7:31 PM in response to Timothy Arends1

I would make sure I have a complete backup of my system BEFORE letting a service center work on my Mac. Actually I try to have 2 full backups, one of which is a clone from SuperDuper or Carbon Copy Cloner. A lot of people have taken system in for repair and have it returned with a completely reformatted disk containing none of their data.

If you have good backups, then you could just erase your sensitive data, as Jeffrey Jones2 suggests. Just make sure you have at least 2 copies of your sensitive data as if you just have one copy you are at risk should something happen to that 1 copy.

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