Back up drive security

Joined
Oct 5, 2012
Messages
218
Reaction score
4
Points
18
Your Mac's Specs
Mac Mini: OSX 10.15.6 Catalina, 8GB Ram, Samsung Series 5 SC570 monitor, Seagate external drive.
I back up my mini-mac to a Seagate external drive..
If the external drive is stolen would my password be needed to access the contents?
Thanks in advance.
 

chscag

Well-known member
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
65,248
Reaction score
1,833
Points
113
Location
Keller, Texas
Your Mac's Specs
2017 27" iMac, 10.5" iPad Pro, iPhone 8, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 Mini, Numerous iPods, Monterey
If the external drive is stolen would my password be needed to access the contents?

No. If you wish to secure your backup drive so that a password is needed, use encryption on the external drive. (That's what FileVault is for.) Only, do not lose your password or you will not be able to access your backup drive's data.
 
OP
Backlighting
Joined
Oct 5, 2012
Messages
218
Reaction score
4
Points
18
Your Mac's Specs
Mac Mini: OSX 10.15.6 Catalina, 8GB Ram, Samsung Series 5 SC570 monitor, Seagate external drive.
No. If you wish to secure your backup drive so that a password is needed, use encryption on the external drive. (That's what FileVault is for.) Only, do not lose your password or you will not be able to access your backup drive's data.

Will do. thanks much.
 
Joined
Oct 16, 2010
Messages
17,540
Reaction score
1,576
Points
113
Location
Brentwood Bay, BC, Canada
Your Mac's Specs
2011 27" iMac, 1TB(partitioned) SSD, 20GB, OS X 10.11.6 El Capitan
OP
Backlighting
Joined
Oct 5, 2012
Messages
218
Reaction score
4
Points
18
Your Mac's Specs
Mac Mini: OSX 10.15.6 Catalina, 8GB Ram, Samsung Series 5 SC570 monitor, Seagate external drive.
Last edited:
Joined
Nov 28, 2007
Messages
25,564
Reaction score
486
Points
83
Location
Blue Mountains NSW Australia
Your Mac's Specs
Silver M1 iMac 512/16/8/8 macOS 11.6
Write and store that password somewhere.
 
OP
Backlighting
Joined
Oct 5, 2012
Messages
218
Reaction score
4
Points
18
Your Mac's Specs
Mac Mini: OSX 10.15.6 Catalina, 8GB Ram, Samsung Series 5 SC570 monitor, Seagate external drive.
OP
Backlighting
Joined
Oct 5, 2012
Messages
218
Reaction score
4
Points
18
Your Mac's Specs
Mac Mini: OSX 10.15.6 Catalina, 8GB Ram, Samsung Series 5 SC570 monitor, Seagate external drive.
Wow, finally finished with the encryption of the hard drive & external drive.
Each took several hrs. No noticeable change in the computer's performance.
 

Shop Amazon


Shop for your Apple, Mac, iPhone and other computer products on Amazon.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
Top