How do you hide/protect your most sensitive materials?

[jsw]

Just did it. Thanks a bunch! I've been using a Mac for almost a year now and am constantly astonished at just how elegant and simple everything is!!

While it has its issues, for the most part OS X tends to do things in an easier way that you'd expect.

I remember trying to figure out how in God's name I could connect to my PC when I first got the Mac. Spent forever trudging through the Applications folder, the Utilities folder, the System Preferences, etc. Turns out it's right there in the Finder under "Go". Command-K. It's that easy. So many other things have been like that for me too. Seems like I'm always learning a new shortcut. What sets it apart from Windows, to me, is that the shortcuts make sense so I remember them easily once I learn them.

 

[Dr. Dastardly]

Does anyone use file vault? Thats what its there for.

 

[jsw]

Well, it doesn't protect you if you've logged in already, and there are risks involved - losing the password, etc., that some people might not want to take with their entire home folder. Also, if you've got a password-protected screen saver up, any admin can log in with their name/password and get into your account, FileVault or not.

Using the password-protected disk image lets you keep some stuff tucked away with a separate password.

I'm not arguing against FileVault. Just saying that this alternative might be better for some people and some cases.

 

[Awimoway]

Does anyone use file vault? Thats what its there for.

I've never trusted it because of the file-loss issues it had when Panther was first released. It's probably safe and functional now, but I'd hate to find out I'm wrong the hard way.

 

[spookykids]

I also never liked that file-vault took ages to complete and it increased quite alot in size when finished. Wasnt worth it it IMO.

 

[BornAgainMac]

use FileVault

Create a separate account and use FileVault for those secret files. For performance reasons, use your regular account for iTunes, iMovie files, iPhoto.

 

[yippy]

Don't forget about fast user switching. You were conserned about logging out and into a guest account. Fast user switching makes that easy, you don't log out but you still need a password to get back to your account. Just a thought.

 

[About2SwitchOvr]

Thank you guys

I've never trusted it because of the file-loss issues it had when Panther was first released. It's probably safe and functional now, but I'd hate to find out I'm wrong the hard way.

I appreciate all the feedback and advice.

I think the disk utility method, changing the icon, route suits me the best.
The real reason is that my gf is moving in with me, in about 2 weeks , and I gotta hide the videos I made with my ex!!! (there is no way, that I'm trashing those)

I owe u guys one!

Peace!