To check to see if you are using FileVault, open System Preferences, click Security & Privacy, and then click the FileVault tab. When you installed Yosemite, one of the setup screens asked if you wanted to enable this utility. If you are using OS X Yosemite, then you are likely already using FileVault.

FileVault Disk EncryptionįileVault encrypts the data on your Mac so unauthorized users can't access your files. The hardware tool is a firmware password you can set in Recovery Mode. The software tool is a utility called FileVault, which you may already be using. One is a software-based encryption tool, and the other is a hardware-based encryption tool, both of which are built-in utilities of OS X. Thankfully, there two precautions you can take to protect yourself and your Mac from intruders. It's possible to reset a password by booting into Recovery Mode or from an external drive. A nefarious individual could purloin your Mac and bypass your user account password in order to access your data or wipe your system clean and begin using it as their own.

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