Hi Stephen, Using an encrypted sparse bundle as outlined by Ray is indeed an option. If you son is running OS X Lion he also has the option of encrypting the entire external drive using FileVault. The new FileVault method has a few advantages over the older sparse bundle method but be warned that you will only be able to read the drive on machines running Lion.
Here is a step-by-step tutorial for encrypting an external drive with FileVault. http://www.macworld.com/article/1161415/lion_encrypt_external_drive.html Note that the security scare regarding passwords being visible when using FileVault does not apply to this situation as you are using the Lion version of FileVault on Lion and not the Snow Leopard version of FileVault on Lion. (It does not apply to sparse bundle method either.) Cheers, Carlo On 09/05/2012, at 23:19 , Ray Forma wrote: > Stephen, > > On any drive use Disk Utility to create a 'New Image' on that drive. The name > you choose for 'Save as' will be the name of the .sparseimage file you are > creating. The name you give for 'Name:' further down is the name of the > virtual disk that appears whenever you open the .sparseimage file you are > creating. If this is a bit confusing then create a small experimental image > and play with it till you get the idea. The trash the experiment and build a > new 'New Image'. > > Give the image a suitable name. Then use the following settings: For size > choose the biggest size you think you'll need, but read about 'sparse disk > image' below before deciding. Use 'Mac OS Extended (Journaled)'. For > encryption use 128-bit AES Encryption. Use 'Single partition - GUID Partition > Map'. For Image Format use 'sparse disk image' so the image will grow in size > as you add files to it, till it reaches the maximum size you chose earlier. > > Click on 'Create'. You will then be asked for a password for access to that > image. Use a strong password and make it memorable because I suggest you > don't add it to your keychain, especially if the image is going reside on a > peripatetic drive. > > When finished, you end up with a file with a .sparseimage filename extension > on the chosen hard disk. When you double click on that image file the Finder > will ask for the password before opening the image as a virtual disk drive > that shows up as a mounted disk. You can then save the files you want > encrypted on that virtual drive. [A virtual drive is not a real physical > drive. A virtual drive is a data structure that behaves as if it was a real > physical drive, but that structure lives as single file on the physical drive > of your choice]. > > Ejecting the virtual disk will make it disappear from your directory of > available disks, but the data will be safely residing in the > <filename>.sparseimage file on the chosen HD. > > Beware: Never drag the <filename>.sparseimage file to the trash or delete > that file in any other way as you will lose all of the encrypted files > contained in that image. Also, if you forget the password to open that image, > you can say goodbye to all its enclosed files. > > The big advantage of the encrypted image file is that it is easy to back up > onto another medium. > > On 09/05/2012, at 8:19 PM, Stephen Chape wrote: > >> Hi folks, >> >> My step son who lives in Dubai bought a new external backup drive recently. >> It was an Iomega Prestige Portable 1TB. >> >> Because he is always travelling around the world, he needs the data >> encrypted. >> However when he got it home he noticed printed in the instructions "can only >> be encrypted for Windows". >> Because the shop told him it was Mac compatible, he took it back and was >> refunded. >> >> I don't know anything about encryption, so how do you go about encrypting >> data on an HD formatted for the Mac ? Does the drive need to come with that >> ability, or can it be added to any drive ? >> >> Regards, >> Stephen Chape > > Regards, > > Ray Forma > Mob +61 (0) 428 596938 > > -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- > Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> > Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> > Settings & Unsubscribe - > <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> Settings & Unsubscribe - <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug>
