Looking for encryption software for the Mac /time machine and cloud backups

[applelover4u]

I'm looking for 3 things

1.
I'm looking to encrypt my mac. i heard of file vault. How does file vault work ? does it only ask for the password when open up analog into my mac for the first time? is it the same as logging into a user account? And how do I relock my mac?

2.
How do i encrypt time machine backups?

3.
Im looking for something to encrypt my cloud backups similar to boxcrypter but for free. any ideals

 

[satcomer]

Maybe you would like GBP Suite.

However with most computer encryption software is in alomost any country you have to give up passwords at arrests and border crossings.

Then you want to use shareware called Espionage. This way you could use plausible deniability at border crossings.

 

[Kissmyne]

Filevault is a whole disk encryption solution, having it enabled will not be very different in terms of logging in, and once logged in your files are decrypted and available.

Time Machine has an "Encrypt Backups" option when selecting volume to back up to.

iCloud encrypts traffic automatically, and the data is stored on an iCloud server in encrypted form.

 

[applelover4u]

Maybe you would like GBP Suite.

However with most computer encryption software is in alomost any country you have to give up passwords at arrests and border crossings.

Then you want to use shareware called Espionage. This way you could use plausible deniability at border crossings.

Nobody is required to give up a password if arrested. if it was required. Sorry i forgot it

 

[satcomer]

Well tell that the student in the UK Student jailed to hand over password to police! Maybe also if you are in the States read the EFF Know Your Rights. So expect being consider a suspect if the police can't get a password from you.

Now with the Cloud you have to be careful and read their policies about cooperating with Goverment requests for data on you!

 

[webbuzz]

Nobody is required to give up a password if arrested. if it was required. Sorry i forgot it

It all depends on where you are, whether you are in your home country, or traveling to a foreign country.

Good luck with saying you forgot it.

 

[applelover4u]

It all depends on where you are, whether you are in your home country, or traveling to a foreign country.

Good luck with saying you forgot it.

Im in the states, either way if someone body wanted to search my private info, sorry sir, I dont know my password, I had it written down but I lost the paper

 

[applelover4u]

Will I need a strong password or will even with a simple dictionary password be just as good and uncrackable? I do alot of business son my mac and i dont want to put my data or customer projects at risk

 

[webbuzz]

Im in the states, either way if someone body wanted to search my private info, sorry sir, I dont know my password, I had it written down but I lost the paper

Again, good luck to you.

 

[Kissmyne]

Will I need a strong password or will even with a simple dictionary password be just as good and uncrackable? I do alot of business son my mac and i dont want to put my data or customer projects at risk

An easy to guess password is going to totally defeat the purpose of encrypting information if it can easily be accessed with an easy password. For security, encrypt and use a strong 12 character or more password including upper case, lower case, and numerals, as well as special characters such as ! @ # $ % ^.

 

[applelover4u]

Again, good luck to you.

 

[hiddenmarkov]

Will I need a strong password or will even with a simple dictionary password be just as good and uncrackable? I do alot of business son my mac and i dont want to put my data or customer projects at risk

Simple dictionary is crackable easier no matter the encryption used. This is the low level stuff cracking software is highly optimized to find.

You have to remember for most consumer stuff they do not go to extremes to prevent brute force attacks. They have to factor in a common user may typo or forget quite a few times. They won't perma-lock the system out for example. Unlike say PGP (which is the whole server/client setup) we use at work for work laptops. You lock it out after 3 tries please come by our office and we have laptop meet server again to unlock it. Some clients not thrilled by this...the wiser ones after the first time take better care to not need to see us a second time.

 

[applelover4u]

So I have filevault encrypted but I'm kind of confused.

How exactly does it work because when I restart my mac I can input my user login as normal but then it is slow to open?

Couldn't somebody simply password reset my account by restarting into utilities?

When i go to my user name in top right corner and select login window it locks again but I assuming that its still unencrypted at this point until I restart my computer correct? Because when i reneter in my password it goes straight to my desktop quickly then a restart.

So really the best way to be fully encrypted and safe with faultvault is to turn off my computer whenever i leave for it even if its for 5 min correct?

..I have been reading this article. It somewhat explains it further http://www.cnet.com/news/can-filevault-be-bypassed-with-os-x-password-reset-routines/

 

[Weaselboy]

So I have filevault encrypted but I'm kind of confused.

How exactly does it work because when I restart my mac I can input my user login as normal but then it is slow to open?

When you have FV2 enabled and start your Mac it is actually booted to the recovery partition and that displays the login screen. Once you enter the PW it begins the normal OS boot process, and that is why it seems a little slow. Without FV2 on, by the time you get the login prompt the OS has already booted. This is not the case with FV2.

Couldn't somebody simply password reset my account by restarting into utilities?

No. The volume is encrypted and locked and that password reset routine will not work with FV2 on.

When i go to my user name in top right corner and select login window it locks again but I assuming that its still unencrypted at this point until I restart my computer correct? Because when i reneter in my password it goes straight to my desktop quickly then a restart.

The "vault" is in a sense open at this point, but still blocked by the password. So it is relatively safe. It is safer to logout.

So really the best way to be fully encrypted and safe with faultvault is to turn off my computer whenever i leave for it even if its for 5 min correct?

No need to shutdown. Just a logout is sufficient.