Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Exploring OS X: FileVault
FileVault lets you protect data on the start-up disk of your Mac from snoopers in a
way that'll have no impact on the way you use your computer. You won't even know
the disk is protected, and the only difference will be that you'll have to provide your
login password immediately after powering up or rebooting rather than at the login
screen a minute or two after the computer has started.
The protection offered by FileVault in OS X is industrial strength: XTS-AES 128
encryption. Anybody who steals your Mac will be simply unable to either boot the
computer without your password or access any of the contents on the hard disk by
removing the disk from the computer and attaching it to a different computer (so-
called forensic analysis ). However, there's one theoretical vulnerability, which is that
if you sleep your computer between uses, a hacker could forensically examine the
memory contents to uncover your password. This is extremely difficult to do even
with the highly specialized knowledge and equipment that would be required, but in
any case the possibility can be circumvented by the truly paranoid by shutting down
their computer whenever they're not using it.
FileVault can be activated by opening System Preferences, clicking Security & Privacy,
and then selecting the FileVault tab. The disk will have to be initially encrypted, which
will take several hours, but that happens in the background, and you can still use
your computer while it happens (and even sleep the computer or shut it down). Check
back on the Security & Privacy pane of System Preferences periodically to see its
progress.
Tip 208
Stop Automatic File Opening
When you start a program, OS X will attempt to open any files that were open
the last time you quit the app. This is either very useful or extremely annoying,
depending on your personal preference, but here's how to take control of this
feature.
Permanently Deactivating App Restore Systemwide
You can permanently deactivate this feature in System Preferences (Apple
menu→System Preferences). Click the General icon and then check Close
Windows When Quitting an Application.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Search WWH ::




Custom Search