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    Should i turn file vault on?

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by mc511, Jan 29, 2008.

  1. mc511

    mc511 Notebook Evangelist

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    I think i should. My network at home is completely open and well yeah i am afraid someone is going to look at my files. LOL. I am paranoid. I also use my colleges open wi fi network in the library. Is there any reason not to turn file vault on?
     
    mc511, Jan 29, 2008
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  2. RadcomTxx

    RadcomTxx Notebook Deity

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    many people end up having trouble with file vault, such as not being able to turn it off, program slowdowns, trouble installing. i wouldn't turn it on. if you set your firewall and sharing features right, it won't be easy to get in. to get into your files os x requires a user/pass.
     
    RadcomTxx, Jan 29, 2008
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  3. Lee Howley

    Lee Howley Notebook Consultant

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    Yeah file fault can cause lots of problems. You have to enter passwords at random times to access some files as well. However, if you have documents aside from school work that should not fall into someone else's hands you may want to consider turning it on. But consider that when you back up files you may need the pass word in the future to access them. I would not recommend turning it on and this is why.
    http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=91121
     
    Lee Howley, Jan 29, 2008
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  4. taelrak

    taelrak Lost

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    Filevault starts having problems when your HDD gets full. It also requires equivalent free space on your HDD (not counting the buffer you usually want to keep for smooth operation of a HDD to begin with), if you ever decide to cancel it. It's something that's not worth the trouble.

    I've never tried the secure swapfile option though so not sure how that works out. I'd imagine it could slow performance down for certain operations.
     
    taelrak, Jan 29, 2008
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  5. AuroraS

    AuroraS Notebook Virtuoso

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    FileVault hasn't been particularly reliable in the past... but I haven't heard anything bad about it recently (i.e. in Leopard). Most of the FileVault problems occured in Tiger...

    Personally, I don't use it... but I've considered it.
     
    AuroraS, Jan 29, 2008
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  6. mc511

    mc511 Notebook Evangelist

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    hmmm okay. Well i dont want to decrease performance. I feel pretty dafe with mac os x. I have my firewall set on the middle option
     
    mc511, Jan 29, 2008
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  7. kgeier82

    kgeier82 Notebook Deity

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    id be more concerned with the open network than trying to solve your issue with filevault.

    filevault is garbage. With the right settings, your mac can be pretty strong, like others have said.
     
    kgeier82, Jan 29, 2008
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