Password protect Time Machine backups

Hello,
I share a LaCie external HDD for Time Machine backups with other people (who also use the drive to back up).
Inside the 'Backups.backupdb' folder, there are folders from the people who back up. Everyone can open all of them - without needing any passwords. I'd like it so that each owner has access to their files, but still have Time Machine backups without any problems or whatever.
When choose 'Get Info' of my folder, and look at the 'Sharing & Permissions' I see:
system - Read & Write,
staff - Read only, and
everyone - Read only.
Why is there no "myusername"? I don't know which one to change (and how).
How do I do this?
I've been looking around a little - I can't find anything that sounds like it'd help me.
Thanks in advance!

rudieih wrote:
Hey, sorry, I guess I wasn't clear.
The drive is used by several MacBooks, each with only one user installed on it (no Guest accounts, nothing else). So each backup file in Backups.backupdb is only for one user/machine.
that doesn't matter. the fact that there is only one account doesn't mean that there could not be more accounts. the permissions for this folder are still set for the whole computer.
I'd like it so I can't see the backups of their computers and they can't see mine. How can I do this?
You can't. if you use the TM backup drive in this fashion there is no way to hide backup folders for different computers from each other. The only thing you can do if you are worried about this sort of thing is to turn on filevault on your account. then nobody but you will be able to see backups of your home directory (not the whole computer). Filefault stores your home directory inside an encrypted sparse bundle which can not be accessed without knowing the password to open it. However, Filevault is a very finicky software and it's extremely poorly integrated with Time machine. It only backs up your home directory once you log out and you won't be able to browse old backups of your home directory using TM interface.
Right now everyone can browse everything.

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Password protect Time Machine backup files?

My Home folder and subfolders are unaccessible for other users of my iMac. And lets say, my household.
However, as soon as I make a TM backup on an external HD, anybody can look into my folders right away.
Since encryption will change the functionality of TM (no file by file recovery) I am looking for password protect the backup.
How come TM doesn't incorporate this?
*OSX protects my folders, Time Machine lays them out in the open.*

Tee Loo wrote:
My Home folder and subfolders are unaccessible for other users of my iMac. And lets say, my household.
However, as soon as I make a TM backup on an external HD, anybody can look into my folders right away.
that's not true. TM backups have EXACTLY the same POSIX permissions as the originals and as such have exactly the same protection as the originals as far as access is concerned. no more and no less. that means among other things that given an admin password one may be able to view them on any computer.
the only way to truly protect your backups is encryption. you seem to know about that and the limitations about filevault with Tm but that's the best you ca do.
Since encryption will change the functionality of TM (no file by file recovery) I am looking for password protect the backup.
How come TM doesn't incorporate this?
*OSX protects my folders, Time Machine lays them out in the open.*

How do I password protect time machine backup

A friend of mine just had her computer and external hard drive stolen. How do I protect my external hard drive (time machine) from being accessed if stolen?

If you have FileVault turned on there is an Option in Time Machine to encrypt the backup. If you do not have FileVault turned on your computer is your biggest vulnerability. You will find a detailed tutorial for turning FileVault on and Encrypting Time Machine here.

Password for Time machine backup

Anyone can help with security issue for time machine backup?
-I want my time machine disk to be password protected
since it is very easy for everyone accessing backup disk from time machine, it is really not secure, or any other backup application have password protection?

vernonstreet wrote:
If I have misplaced my password for the time capsule, how do I reset?
That's a different password. Do a "soft reset" per [Resetting an AirPort Base Station or Time Capsule FAQ|http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3728].

Password for time machine backups

I have a 250 GB WD external hard drive that I use for my Time machine backups.
I do not want to encrypt the backups on the external HD.
I only want to create a password for the HD so that when mounted it requires a password.
Is there a way I can do this.

No.

If I reset my admin password, will Time Machine backups be impacted?

I have a Mac Mini, OS X10.6.8. I forgot my admin password, but I see I can reboot with specific commands to reset my admin password. Before I do this, I would like to know if files on my computer AND/OR backup files on my Time Machine will be impacted. Will all remain the same, no disrupt if I reset by rebooting and giving commands? Thanks!

Time Machine won't be affected. Neither will your files, except the keychains, which will be reset to empty. You can't recover those without the password.

What is password for time machine backup

I have bought a mountain lion compatible wd ny book live 1 tb external hard disk. While connecting through wifi, it is asking for password of system administrator. It is not taking either apple I'd or other download, application install passwords. What do I do ?

You almost certainly do not have a Time Capsule, however to look it up go to Apple's online store and search for it. Bottom line if you want TM to work properly and reliably please follow the directions of connecting the EHD directly to your computer or purchase a Time Capsule and connect using the enclosed instructions.

How do I password protect the external hard drive used for Time Machine backup

Can anyone help me to put password protection on the external hard drive I use to Time Machine backup my iMac internal hard drive? I use Snow Leopard 10.6

I think that was FileVault 1. Starting with Lion (10.7) Mac OS X uses FileVault 2, which is whole disk encryption.
Based on complaints seen in these forums, I would say FileVault 2's only complaint has been when people forget their password/encryption key (it seems an encrypted disk does prevent anyone without the password from accessing the data, including the real owner). Otherwise it does not seem to be causing any serious issues. Your Mileage may vary and objects are closer than they appear in your side view mirror (standard disclaimer). Of course this is all academic while you are using Snow Leopard (10.6).
There are other whole disk encryption packages available, such as PGP Whole Disk Encryption, HOWEVER, I would not advise it for your Mac OS X boot disk, as it has been known to be a problem when you try to install operating system updates or upgrade to a new version. NOTE: I have not seen PGP Whole Disk Encryption discussed much, ever since FileVault 2 came along.

How do you migrate a FileVault-protected account from a Time Machine backup?

Recently the hard drive on my Macbook Pro died and had to be replaced. Prior to the hard drive's failure, I had backed up my sole user account to an external hard drive using Time Machine. When setting up the new hard drive for the first time, I used Migration Assistant to restore my user account to my new hard drive. However, when I go to log in to the user account I transferred over, I encounter the following error: "You are unable to log in to the FileVault user account "User" at this time. Log in failed because an error occurred." I am absolutely positive I entered the correct password.
My next step was to boot from the install disc and repair the hard drive and permissions. The same problem occurred when I tried to login.
Then I wiped the hard drive and installed Snow Leopard normally without attempting to migrate anything. After the installation, I attempted migration, only to see an error message under the "Users" heading, saying, "User accounts protected by FileVault can't be transferred." Looking at the backups I have on my external hard drive, I cannot see any of my individual files, which I could when logged in on my previous hard drive.
I have scoured the internet for possible solutions but none seem to fit the situation. The techs at the Genius Bar tried a few things beyond my level of technical know-how and were unsuccessful, and they did not seem too optimistic about my chances. They mentioned that I should consider a visit to a data recovery center if I could not find any way to fix this issue.
This is immensely important, considering my FileVault-protected account nestled away in the Time Machine backups on my external hard drive contains all of my work. While I am willing to make the trip to the data recovery center, I would like that to be a measure of last resort. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated!

A google search for You are unable to log in to the FileVault user account yielded many hits, including this one: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4184 which might help resolve your issue. I don't use TM, so that's all I have to offer.

Restored iMac from Time Machine backup - now it wants a password!

Hi - hope you can help!
I restored my iMac from a Time Machine backup after a hard drive password. My system (user account) was not password protected - if ever asked for a password, all I needed to do was press Enter. The Time Capsule itself was password protected, but only in so much as the admin access and the wi-fi.
After restoring overnight, I'm now presented with a login screen and two user accounts to choose from (my wife and mine) but it requires a password. Pressing enter doesn't work, nor do any of the Time Capsule passwords.
Previously the iMac was set up to auto login to my account and didn't need a password then.
Any ideas why this might suddenly require a password? Is it a standard system generated password I should know?
Thanks for any help.
I'm running the latest version of OS X.
Jon

Didn't have enough coffee yet. Of course, what I told you won't work, since you can't log in. This might work. You must boot into to Single User mode, Cmd-s at the Startup chime.
At the root# prompt enter the following commands. Press RETURN after each:
fsck -fy
mount -uw /
launchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.DirectoryServices.plist
dscl . -passwd /Users/username password
Replace "username" with one of the user names and "password" with the desired password.
Reboot

I'm having a problem with logging into a FileVault-protected user account after restoring from Time Machine backup.

Hi all,
My computer had been running really slowly for a while, so I decided to erase the whole hard drive and reinstall the operating system, and then I was going to restore the files I cared about from Time Machine. The main account, which had all my documents and photos, was FileVault-protected. The last thing I did before erasing the hard drive was to run one last Time Machine backup. As far as I remember, I always ran Time Machine backups with the FileVaulted user logged in.
I don't remember whether I was using FileVault 1 or 2. I had been using FileVault 1, but I installed Lion as soon as it came out and I thought I had migrated to FileVault 2 at that point.
Once I erased the hard drive and reinstalled the operating system, I browsed the Time Machine disk and, within the Users folder, there was no folder for the main user account. When I tried to reinstall everything by restoring from Time Machine backup, I'd get the option for all the user accounts, but when I tried to log in with the main one I'd get the dreaded "You are unable to log in to the FileVault user account "User" at this time. Log in failed because an error occurred." Finally, when attempting to restore from the Time Machine backup again, I noticed something strange: After the computer got to about 10% done restoring, it declared itself completed successfully and rebooted.
I've tried a number of tips that came up from questions about similar issues on the Apple support forum, but had no luck. Is there any way to get these files back? Did they ever even get backed up?
Thanks.

Hroodbwai wrote:
I can't find it! not sure what's going on but the only folder shown is the " Shared" folder.
Did you have only the one user account? If there were others, they should also be in the "Users" folder. You probably won't have access to the files inside them, but they should be there.
From what can make out, it looks like it's not backed up any of the files for the filevault account. Can't see user folder when looking through previous backups in Time Machine galaxy view.
Are you doing that from a Finder window set to your internal HD, or your computer name? It should look something like this (with the Finder in List view):
|
|
I'd been logging out and backing up manually on a regular basis.
Scheduled backups should run normally; but they won't back up the File Vault sparse bundle, nor will any run manually.
The only time it's backed-up is when you actually log out.
You should have seen this window on logout:
|
|
followed by this one:
|
|
If you didn't see the second one, or cancelled it, the account wasn't backed-up.

Restore encrypted Time Machine backup: password failure

hi,
I upgraded my mid 09 MBP with an SDD and created a Fusion Drive maintaining my HDD in the optical bay. After rebooting and wanting to restore from a Time Machine Backup, I'm prompted with a password request of the disk image, being the password I used to encrypt the TM when creating it.
No matter how I enter the password, it says it's not correct and I can't proceed.
Finally I created in a fresh setup of Mavericks. Once I'm in my Mac, When going to Time Machine, I see my Time Capsule drive on the network, and entering the encryption password, I can indeed access my Sparse Bundle.
I have to say that my password contains a space at the end of the password (it slipped in by copying the password by accident) and I think it might be the reason it's not accepting it as the valid password when in recovery/setup mode.. Either way, I've tried the password with and without the space so...
In Disk Utility, I've had the disk listed but the change password feature is disabled..
I've looked thru different forums, but no luck so far.
Anyone who has had the same issue or has a clue on how to either change the encryption password or how to install the full backup I have in my sparse bundle, it would be highly appreciated!
Thanks in advance.

Hello:
This thread seems to answer your question:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/12949561#12949561
Barry

Entering password for an encrypted time machine backup

During a recent hard disk failure. I have had to restore my system from a time machine backup.
I keep this backup on an encrytped external drive.
I booted into recovery mode, erased the drive to fix the hard disk errors (it wasn't repairable).
Then I tried to mount the encrypted drive for recovery.
Everytime I entered the password, a 50 character string with all character types it failed to unlock.
I tried the disk on another mac and it unlocked fine.
Then I noticed that the recovery mode defaults to US Input Source and I have a UK macbook (2007).
So I changed the input source to British.
Still the password doesn't work.
Then I noticed that once you click unlock the password entry box defaults to US again and doesn't let you change it.
Fortunately UK keyboard isn't very different to US and I figured out that the only difference was to use Shift 3 for # rather than option 3 that we normally use on the UK keyboard.
Is there a work around this? Is it a known issue.
Glad I don't have an arabic or russian keyboard :-)

File a bug report with Apple.

HT201250 I had to replace the hard drive in my old MacBook. I replaced it. Installed OSX10.6. Then using the system software I reinstalled data from my Time Machine backup. On completion it asked for my password. It is not accepted. I am locked out how I

I had to replace the hard drive in my old MacBook. I replaced it. Installed OSX10.6. Then using the system software I reinstalled data from my Time Machine backup. On completion it asked for my password. It is not accepted. I am locked out how I overcome this?
I was already using 10.7. But only had the disc for 10.6.

Sorry I am new to this. Am I in the right area? I am using my iPhone to make contact. I am worried.

Time machine backup fails; error creating folder. Western Digital drive requires password which is perhaps/likely the issue. I can't eliminate the password/encryption.

Time Machine backup fails on new WD external drive (My Passport Studio); error creating folder (after several hours of Time Machine apparently working).
Background: I purchased a Western Digital drive from an Apple Store to use for Time Machine backup. I followed the Western Digital instructions that came with the drive for Mac. I didn't get the Time Machine prompt which the instructions indicated I would receive--namely to select whether I want to encrypt my Time Macine backups. (I already have a Time Machine backup I use at another location, which is perhaps why I didn't receive a prompt.)
I decided to install the Western Digital utilities and security software that comes on the disk--with a view to potentially encrypting the disk (since I still wanted to have an encrypted backup since I was mobile). I forgot that (from experience 2-years previous) that I shouldn't install Western Digital software because it just makes life really complicated.
I tried several times to do a Time Machine backup with failures each time (error creating the backup folder). I tried to get help from WD but I don't think the technicians were following what my issue was. Potentially I was not helpful in explaining it. I deleted the WD applications from my system after the first contact with WD. However the problem persisted--I still had an encrypted hard drive. After three phone sessions with three different WD techs I still could not get a solution. (By the second call I was not at all interested in having an encrypted drive--I just wanted to format and restore the drive to an unencrypted state so that I could have SOME kind of Time Machine backup.)
I still don't have a solution--either to get Time Machine working with the WD encryption/password on the drive, or to remove the encryption so I can backup. Right now my options are to return the drive to the Apple Store -- or get a return authorization from WD. Seems crazy since the drive is fine and I have the working password.

Never install "helpful software" provided by WD and Seagate (or any HD mfg.)
All such stuff is fluff and nonsense that interferes with normal HD operation.
Always when you buy a new HD, format it for Mac and then use it to TM backup or clone a HD, or archive data.
Less is more on HD new out of box. A "blank brick", no fluff and cotton candy software

Password protect Time Machine backups

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