Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Sharangad

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 19, 2008
57
0
Hi Guys

How secure is an HFS+ hard disk?

I ask because my work machine is a Mac and the company wants to apply full disk encryption.

Thanks
 
It's a disk format, just like FAT or NTFS

If you want encryption, then use FileVault, or create a new image in Disk Utility, encrypt that and use it to store your work files
 
As Chris.L said: HFS+ (like almost all disk formats) does not include any encryption. So you have two options:

1) Use FileVault that encrypts your home folder (but nothing else)

2) Go with one of the third-party whole-disk-encryption products

Note that the standards that your company might set might require whole-disk-encryption. They often do this because otherwise you have to figure out all the places a sensitive file *might* have been placed (think temp files, caches, etc...), and this becomes a nightmare when a computer with sensitive information goes missing. Unless you can certify that everything sensitive is inaccessible then you have to go through the very expensive reporting procedures.
 
Simple answer is "not at all" - if someone gets your hard disk they get all your data. If your company want to apply full disk encryption there are several full disk encryption products that support Macs.
 
Hi Guys

How secure is an HFS+ hard disk?

I ask because my work machine is a Mac and the company wants to apply full disk encryption.

Thanks

It's a disk format, not a security measure. People can still view your files with ease.

You need encryption if you want to keep your files safe.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.