[Nobody]

I've been looking at FiileVault a bit lately, and been wondering if I should think about enabling so my new PowerBook is safer when I am at school.
How many of you use FileVault?
Does it slow down your system performance by much? Is it noticeable?
What are the main advantages and disadvantages?
Would you recommend it?

[aphayton]

Ive been thinking about this too. Hopefully someone with some knowledge might reply.

[d00d]

In reply to:

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How many of you use FileVault?

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I don't, and I'll tell you why. There is no data on any of my computers that requires FileVault. None. Really, the only time I can think it's worth it is for people working on goverment classified documents and source code or proprietary research that people are actively trying to steal. For the overwhelming majority of users, it's completely unnecessary. For the most part, I recommend people steer clear.

[drmbb]

I'd add that FileVault seems like massive overkill to me (encrypting your entire home directory to protect just some files), and has the downside that if you ever forget your password, ALL your files are locked away.
If you need to protect a few sensitive files, make an encrypted image with Disk Utility for just those. Or get a USB flash drive (my 1GB memorex cost less than $50.00 after rebates), put an encrypted image on it and keep it either locked away safely when not needed, or guarded on your person.
Just my $0.02 /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
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[car1son]

I use individual encrypted disk images rather than FileVault. That takes more effort to set up than simply turning on Filevault, but I started doing this before OS X 10.3 Panther made Filevault available.
Personal financial data (Quicken, taxes, budget), company data, and documents relating to business clients go in their own individual images (almost all my work contracts include clauses requiring reasonable precautions to safeguard client data). I also encrypt my Entourage mail database (most mail doesn't need that, but it's easier to simply protect the whole database.) And of course all passwords are on OSX keychains (which are encrypted). The individual images are also easy to back up while still encrypted (when I'm traveling, the laptop backups are often to my iPod), which protects the backups as well.
This way I don't have to bother encrypting large, non-sensitive data such as music and photographs. Encrypted disk images are slower to access than unencrypted data. You probably wouldn't notice with most applications like Word, browsers and iTunes. But if you were doing a video or audio editing or even just serious Photoshopping, you'd see better performance with encrypted data. (which is an advantage of individual encrypted images over universal filevault coverage.)
On any other hand, if you feel you need to protect some data and don't care to go to the trouble of setting up individual images, Filevault is a nice, simple blanket coverage of everything. (Just don't forget to have backups!)

[dougster]

In reply to:

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(Just don't forget to have backups!)

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I also have FileValt disabled, but this post brings something else to mind. Maybe a little off topic. But having important data, ie. home video, or stills, of house contents on CD/DVD/Zip, etc. is a good idea to have elsewwhere for home owner's insurance policy if something were to happen like a fire. In CA there are earthquakes, and after working on some homes after the, I think, 1994 biggy...many did NOT get a fare hand due to items NOT documented...even with earthquake insurance. Just a side thought..

[moose_n_squirrel]

I also do not use FileVault. From what I've read, since it does the entire home folder, it will waste time encrypting many GB that do not need to be encrypted, like the songs in your iTunes folder and the videos in your Movies folder.
Like others here, I make my own encrypted disk image with Disk Utility and put confidential data in there. The disk image is the size of a CD so it's easy to back up.

[Reboot]

It's buggy and has has been known to erase data. If you use it and it asks you to recover lost disk space, just say no. It tend to erase important files. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif There have been numerous reports on the bugs.

[pkeene]

Hi Bob,
I use FileVault on my PB for the simple reason that some of the consultancy work I do is classified. I've used it for over a year without any problem. After initial encryption you don't even notice it's on other than when it asks to recover disk space - which I do, again without problem. FileVault proved its worth when the PB's logic board failed and had to be replaced. While I know and trust my tech, it was comforting to know he had no access to my project files during the repair.
Would I recommend it? Not on a desktop - if you suffered a power failure during encryption/decryption you'd almost certainly corrupt the sparse image. (Apple does however have a KB doc on repairing sparse images.) If you carry confidential (or higher) information on your PB then yes I would recommend it. The risk of your PB being lost or stolen is not insignificant.
Peter