HeySage

The first episode of the Heysage Podcast, The Macintosh How-To ScreenCast, is finished an up on the server!
You may watch the podcast here and subscribe to the podcast feed here

In Todays episode The Sage shows you how to created an encrypted disk image.

Q: What is an encrypted disc image?

A: Think of it as a password protected folder

Q: Why would you want to create an encrypted disc image?

A: Well, the main reason is to create a folder for which to house contents that you would like to keep secure and protected. Examples of things that you may keep in an encrypted disc image are:

A document with password.
Quicken or Quickbooks files
Anything you would like to keep safe and secure

The fact of the matter is that if you have a Macbook, Powerbook, iBook or whatever and it is lost, anybody can get into your computer (even if you have configured your Mac to require a password at login), with a reinstall disc. You have to remember that we are talking about a Mac. So, all the thief has to do is insert the installation disc and away they go with all of your data.

So how do we do it?

Go to Utilities -> Disc Utility
Select File -> New -> Bland Disc Image (or Disc Image from Folder if you prefer)
A dialog box opens. In the dialog box enter a Name for your disc image and choose a destination to save the disc image to. Also choose a size and the encryption type (AES-128)
From here you will prompted to create a password. Enter you password (twice) and uncheck (or not) the box which saves your password to your keychain.

At this point you are through. You have created the .dmg file or disc image. To open the image all you need to do is double click the .dmg file that you created. Once you do, you will be prompted for the password. Once you enter the password, the disc image will mount on the desktop. From there you can double click the mounted disc image to open the folder. With the folder open you can drag and drop anything you would like into the folder. Be careful though, when you drag a file into the image it will place a copy in the folder. You must go back and delete the file on your drive.

Hope that his helps. Feel free to email any feedback, questions, or comments.

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