FileVault

FileVault

FileVault is a disk encryption program available in macOS, Apple's operating system for Macintosh computers. It is designed to protect the data on a user's hard drive by encrypting the entire disk, making it inaccessible to unauthorized users.

History

FileVault was first introduced in Mac OS X Panther (version 10.3) in 2003. Initially, it only encrypted a user's home directory. With the release of Mac OS X Lion (version 10.7) in 2011, Apple introduced FileVault 2, which expanded encryption to the entire disk.

Features

FileVault uses XTS-AES-128 encryption with a 256-bit key to secure data. This level of encryption is considered highly secure and is used to protect sensitive information.

Full Disk Encryption

FileVault 2 provides full disk encryption, meaning that the entire contents of the disk are encrypted. This includes the operating system, applications, and user data. When the computer is turned off, the data is inaccessible without the correct password or recovery key.

Recovery Key

During the setup of FileVault, users are given the option to create a recovery key. This key can be used to unlock the disk if the user forgets their password. It is important to store this key in a safe place, as losing both the password and the recovery key can result in permanent data loss.

Integration with iCloud

Starting with macOS Sierra (version 10.12), users have the option to store their recovery key in iCloud. This provides an additional layer of security and convenience, as users can recover their data even if they forget their password.

Security Considerations

FileVault is designed to protect data from unauthorized access, especially in the event of theft or loss of the device. However, it is important to note that once a user is logged in, the data is decrypted and accessible. Therefore, users should still use strong passwords and other security measures to protect their data.

Performance

FileVault is designed to have minimal impact on system performance. Modern Macs with hardware support for encryption can handle the encryption and decryption processes efficiently, ensuring that users do not experience significant slowdowns.

Enabling FileVault

To enable FileVault, users can go to the "Security & Privacy" section in System Preferences. From there, they can turn on FileVault and follow the prompts to set up encryption.

See Also

• macOS
• Disk encryption
• XTS-AES

References

• Apple Support: How to use FileVault
• Wikipedia: FileVault