Is there a way to password protect a Time Machine external drive?

alphajack7alphajack7
Posted:
in Genius Bar edited January 2014
I like the ease and functionality of Time Machine but want to password protect the drive in case it gets into the wrong hands.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 3
    undo redoundo redo Posts: 164member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by alphajack7 View Post


    I like the ease and functionality of Time Machine but want to password protect the drive in case it gets into the wrong hands.



    You could put a sparse disk image on it and password protect that, then set the disk image as your TM backup disk.
  • Reply 2 of 3
    alphajack7alphajack7 Posts: 97member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Undo Redo View Post


    You could put a sparse disk image on it and password protect that, then set the disk image as your TM backup disk.



    Thanks. Great idea.



    For some reason, when I go to Time Machine Preferences and click Change Disk, the sparse disk image does not appear in the list. Only the original external hard drive and "None".



    Should I be seeing the password protect image or volume in that list?
  • Reply 3 of 3
    undo redoundo redo Posts: 164member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by alphajack7 View Post


    Thanks. Great idea.



    For some reason, when I go to Time Machine Preferences and click Change Disk, the sparse disk image does not appear in the list. Only the original external hard drive and "None".



    Should I be seeing the password protect image or volume in that list?



    Did you mount the disk image? You'd need to double click the sparse disk image and enter the password. Obviously, this won't be as convenient as having a disk ready at all times.



    FYI, I have not tried this, so I'm not even certain it would work but I don't know why it wouldn't.
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