Disc encryption vs. file/folder encryption

[GanChan]

I want to protect personal data and business information on my Mac, so of course I've given serious thought to FireVaulting it. But this process will grind everything to a near-halt for hours, so I'm wondering now whether simply encrypting the sensitive folders would be just as good. One fringe benefit, it seems to me, is that even if I forget the password, I'd be locked out of those folders but the computer itself would still be usable.....

Anyone else decide to go the folder route instead of the whole-disk route?

 

[chown33]

OS X doesn't offer folder-level encryption.

You can make a disk image in Disk Utility, and encrypt the disk image. Copy your sensitive folders to the disk-image. Double-click to mount it; Eject to unmount it. After confirming all files OK on disk image, delete original folders.

To ensure the system requires a manually entered password, make sure you DO NOT store the disk-image's password in your keychain.

https://support.apple.com/kb/PH22247

 

[GanChan]

OS X doesn't offer folder-level encryption.

You can make a disk image in Disk Utility, and encrypt the disk image. Copy your sensitive folders to the disk-image. Double-click to mount it; Eject to unmount it. After confirming all files OK on disk image, delete original folders.

To ensure the system requires a manually entered password, make sure you DO NOT store the disk-image's password in your keychain.

https://support.apple.com/kb/PH22247

Yes, that's how I would want to do it, I think.

 

[satcomer]

Do you want some shareware called Espionage?

 

[KALLT]

Full-disk encryption is IMO preferable due to the fact that files can end up outside of the folders. The system stores temporary copies of files elsewhere.