Access Encrypted HDD - Wireless Network

[jdsingle]

Not having much luck finding answers on this, I don't know if I just suck at searching in this forum or if I am the first to post about it. I've also been doing a fair amount of Google searching with little results.

I do not use Time Machine as I prefer to manually backup files on a frequent basis and also would like other MacBooks in the house to have access to the drive if need be. I am looking at getting a new router (currently have Airport) and moving to Asus RT-AC68U router with a couple of USB ports on it. In a perfect world, I'd love to have my media HDD and the backup HDD attached to the router and be able to access these over the network (in case that wasn't clear). I haven't pulled the trigger on a new router yet, but I am curious if anyone is currently accessing an encrypted HDD over a wireless network? Did you have any issues getting this setup? Any thoughts/tips?

 

[Rodan52]

Why is your HDD encrypted in the first place? Obviously you can network your devices, but an encrypted HDD is only going to be readable by the device that encrypted it in the first place, otherwise it would defeat the whole point of encryption.

 

[jdsingle]

Why is your HDD encrypted in the first place?

I have financial information stored on my HDD as a backup. I'm not going to have sensitive information sitting on a HDD that isn't encrypted. Anyone who backs up sensitive data to a non-encrypted device is being pretty careless if they are not securing the HDD in a safe or something similar. All it takes is one break-in and they grab my HDD and they have access to a ton of financial/health/personal information.

Obviously you can network your devices, but an encrypted HDD is only going to be readable by the device that encrypted it in the first place, otherwise it would defeat the whole point of encryption.

This is incorrect. I can take my HDD and plug it into any of my other MacBooks and it requests the password used to encrypt the HDD. As long as that is entered then access is given.

Your post was completely pointless and inaccurate.

 

[KALLT]

I suppose it depends on your router whether that is possible. I know that mine doesn't support Apple's HFS+ format. What you can do is using a separate encrypted disk image (a file), preferably a sparse image that can expand. That way you can access the drive, but keep your contents secure. I think this is the same idea behind Time Capsule when used with Time Machine.

 

[Weaselboy]

I suppose it depends on your router whether that is possible. I know that mine doesn't support Apple's HFS+ format. What you can do is using a separate encrypted disk image (a file), preferably a sparse image that can expand. That way you can access the drive, but keep your contents secure. I think this is the same idea behind Time Capsule when used with Time Machine.

I was just going to suggest the same thing. That router won't be a able to read an HFS+ encrypted drive, but it would be able to host an encrypted sparse bundle image just fine. You could even use Carbon Copy Cloner to automate the process.

https://bombich.com/kb/ccc4/backing-up-disk-image

 

[jdsingle]

I suppose it depends on your router whether that is possible. I know that mine doesn't support Apple's HFS+ format. What you can do is using a separate encrypted disk image (a file), preferably a sparse image that can expand. That way you can access the drive, but keep your contents secure. I think this is the same idea behind Time Capsule when used with Time Machine.

I am going to have to look into this. I appreciate the advice and will report back once I get the change to fiddle around with this.

I was just going to suggest the same thing. That router won't be a able to read an HFS+ encrypted drive, but it would be able to host an encrypted sparse bundle image just fine. You could even use Carbon Copy Cloner to automate the process.

https://bombich.com/kb/ccc4/backing-up-disk-image

I appreciate the link and as mentioned above, will report back with findings.