orrinfacey01: 10.6.7: Set up encrypted Backup in Time Machine for FileVault

Monday, May 9, 2011

10.6.7: Set up encrypted Backup in Time Machine for FileVault

This is how to set up Time Machine to work with FileVault, producing a proper incremental backup of each file in your home folder, and have that backup encrypted. If you use this technique, you should also have a second backup, preferably a clone of your hard drive.

Throughout this hint, replace $computername with the name of your computer, $username with the short name of your FileVault user, and $backupdrive with the name of your hard drive.

[crarko adds: Please treat the following process as experimental, and be dead sure you have a complete backup of any system you try this on.] Here is the procedure:

Step 1: Prepare the Disk Image

To create the image: Open Disk Utility, click 'New Image,' and enter the following:

Save the image as $computername.spar ...