MAC ENCRYPTION:

Securing Data, even on a MAC

By an anonymous tipster friend of Brigada (Thanks!)

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Creating an Auto-Mounting Encrypted Volume

 First, launch Disk Utility and create an encrypted sparse image file. Note that while the size you set will reflect the maximum amount of data you can store on the volume, the volume size will shrink to fit. Be sure to use a strong, alpha-numeric password, but one that you won't forget. Save the Sparse Image file somewhere on your hard disk (like in your User folder, so it will get backed up).

Next, launch System Preferences and select the Accounts Panel (in Tiger). While your account is selected, click on the Login Items tab and add the Sparse Image file to the list of login items, so it will be mounted on your desktop automatically when you log in.

This method os better than Apple's FileVault, since you can selectively store the items you want secured without having to keep your entire Home folder encrypted in one single file.

Configuring Mail to Access the Mail Folder on the Encrypted Volume

First, quit the Mail program if it's running. Create a folder called "Mail" on the encrypted volume (in these instructions the encrypted volume will be referred to as "Vault"). Next, copy the Mailboxes folder from the User/Library/Mail folder to the new Vault/Mail folder. Delete the Mailboxes folder in User/Library/Mail. Repeat the same process for any mail account folders in the User/Library/Mail folder.

Now launch TextEdit and open the file User/Library/Preferences/com.apple.mail.plist and use the Find command to replace all occurrences of "~/Library/Mail" with "/Volumes/Vault/Mail". Save and close the file. Launch Mail, and the program should begin using the Mail folder on the encrypted volume.

Fixing the Mail Preferences if Mail is Launched When the Encrypted Volume Is Not Mounted

If the Mail program is launched while the encrypted volume is not mounted, it will create an invisible volume that will cause the program to lose the path to the real encrypted volume. It's not actually a volume, but a sort of "ghost" of the original volume. This problem can fixed easily, without editing the preference file.

First, eject the encrypted volume (in these instructions the encrypted volume will be referred to as "Vault"). Now, in the Finder, select "Go to Folder..." from the "Go" menu. In the dialog box, type "/Volumes" and click OK. A window opens up in the finder that lists currently mounted volumes, and should contain a folder with the name "Vault". This is the "ghost" folder that was created when Mail was launched without the encrypted volume mounted. Drag this folder to the Trash, close the window, and empty the trash. Remount the encrypted volume, and launch Mail. Everything should be back to normal.

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