Q: Password protect
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Aug 18, 2016 2:13 AMby FoxFifth,HelpfulMy MacBook Air is protected by FileVault. It rarely leaves my home but I would turn on FileVault even if it never left just to protect against the unlikely possibility of theft. I had to have the screen replaced by an Apple Authorized Service Provider under warranty. They were able to do it without me giving them the password. Use FileVault to encrypt the startup disk on your Mac - Apple Support
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Aug 18, 2016 2:19 AMby AndyPeardrop,Thank you for your reply. I am worried about using encryption software incase it leads to problem down the line when un-encrypting. Could this result in data loss ? Also, I'm the kind of person that likes to switch on my Mac and start working. Will FileVault enable me to secure my files when I need to (when it is being repaired, when it is in a situation where it might be stolen etc) but switch it off when I'm at home?
Could I not simply establish a master password for the whole of my home folder, for example?
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Aug 18, 2016 8:01 AMby FoxFifth,It takes some time for FileVault to initially do the encryption. Once that is done there is nothing noticeable about having it on except that it does require a password when you turn on your Mac. Other than that you do as you say - switch on the Mac and start working. As I said, my Mac rarely leaves home but I use FileVault on it and I don't have anything real sensitive stored on it but it does have tax returns with social security numbers and similar things I wouldn't want a thief to be able to access.
Instead of using FileVault you can just require a password to start the Mac but that doesn't add much protection from someone who knows what they are doing.
