Here's a quick instruction on how to check if FileVault disk encryption is enabled on your Mac: But if these inconveniences don't bother you, FileVault is a surefire way to protect your files. Besides, this process takes a bit of CPU, slightly affecting performance. The only downside is that FileVault automatically locks your device, so you're forced to log in each time you boot your Mac. This feature is outstanding if you're a Mac user that regularly travels with a laptop, meaning there's a greater chance for it to be lost or stolen. FileVault offers peace of mind, and that's priceless. In that case, you have to use FileVault disk encryption. Suppose you're concerned about the privacy of your files and user data, or your computer contains sensitive information that shouldn't be seen without authorized access. Also, the Find My Mac feature can be used to wipe your drive remotely if it ever gets into the wrong hands. Thankfully, 2003 was long ago, and today with the new FileVault, you get full-disk encryption. It was terrible! The functionality was very poor, the implementation was shoddy, and only the home directory could be encrypted. But to say it wasn't good enough would be an understatement. Any new and changed data will be automatically locked and password-protected to prevent unauthorized access.įileVault was initially introduced to Mac in 2003 on OS X 10.3 Panther. Once FileVault is enabled on your Mac, every single existing piece of data will be encrypted. It's designed to encrypt your Mac's files on the hard drive using a 128-bit AES encryption with a 256-bit key.

Okay, let's get started, shall we? What is FileVault?įileVault is macOS built-in disk encryption feature. You'll find everything you need to know about FileVault, about how and why you should use it in this article. So I decided to shed some light on it instead. Apple has never made a big fuss about this great tool designed to protect your data. But to help you do it all by yourself, we’ve gathered our best ideas and solutions below.įeatures described in this article refer to the MacPaw site version of CleanMyMac X.įileVault is one of those Mac features you know is there but are never really sure what for. So here’s a tip for you: Download CleanMyMac to quickly solve some of the issues mentioned in this article.

File vault mac