Accessing Time Machine Backups from External Hard Drive?

[kungming2]

Dear fellow Mac users,

My external hard drive was recently stolen from my luggage in the airport. I was wondering if the thieves would have access to my files on it without knowing my system password? It was unfortunately not encrypted with FileVault.

I guess my scenarios are the thief plugs my HFS drive into his Mac - can he view the files that are backed up there? Or does he have too boot from it? And if so, would it require my password?

Would really appreciate any help on this.

Thanks.

 

[G4DP]

If he looks at it with another Mac, he will be able to see everything. You don't even have to know what you are doing. Just keep clicking and everything comes up to view.

 

[imbogus1]

Dear fellow Mac users,

My external hard drive was recently stolen from my luggage in the airport.

What possesses people to do this? Is this a mob thing or just badly screened TSA workers?

 

[kungming2]

What possesses people to do this? Is this a mob thing or just badly screened TSA workers?

Yeah, I was very surprised too - this was the first time I've ever had anything stolen from my luggage. It was a really nice LaCie d2 drive though, which probably made it an attractive target.

Thanks for all the input.

 

[old-wiz]

was it in your checked luggage? If so why would you put it there?