Perhaps you’ve seen our post on how to backup your computer using TimeMachine. Hopefully you are already doing so! However, have you considered how safe your files may be? What happens if your backup drive get’s stolen? There are many ways to deal with security, but in this blog post we are going to show you how to lock (encrypt) your Time machine backup so that it will require your password to access, or even connect to the computer!

–WARNING– THIS IS SERIOUS SECURITY. IF YOU ENCRYPT YOUR BACKUP AND FORGET YOUR PASSWORD YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO GET THE FILES THERE.

OK! So, with that out of the way. Here’s how you want to go about it.

  1. Connect an external hard drive to your computer.
    • Note- If you have already used this for backup you will need to erase it first. Students do not have the capacity to do this on their Brewsterized computers. Please see ITD for assistance.
  2. Your computer will ask you if you want to use this for Time Machine Backup. Please check the “Encrypt Backup Disk” and then button labeled “Use as Backup Disk”.Screen Shot 2015-10-08 at 5.18.01 PM
    Note- If you do not click “Encrypt Backup Disk” you will have to start over from step 1 in order to encrypt it.
  3.  Enter an password to Encrypt your disk
    Screen Shot 2015-10-08 at 5.20.03 PM
  4. A new preference window will pop up on your screen and it will start counting down (120 seconds) until it begins to backup your entire computer.
    Screen Shot 2015-10-08 at 5.20.41 PM
  5. Let your computer backup fully, the first time. If you continue to watch that same window you will see a progress bar appear.