FileVault

FileVault is software that is incorporated with Mac and iOS devices to provide security. The name is actually used by Apple to refer to disk encryption. The first appearance of FileVault was in 2011, and since that time it has become a standard feature on Apple devices. Most Mac users will recognize FileVault as the program which requires a password to be entered before the Mac boots. An XTS-AES 128-block cipher is used by File Vault to secure the hard disk on a Mac. Without the password, data on the disk is unrecognizable. Users create a password when they purchase a new device and use it for the first time. FileVault also allows for the creation of a recovery key. Some versions of the software may also permit logging into one's iCloud account to unlock a device. One significant downside of the software is how long it takes to setup. When used for the first time, the program can take several hours to complete encryption. The same can be said for decrypting the device. Another issue is that FileVault can struggle with older versions of the MacOS. The loss of the password and recovery phrase means that access to the hard disk is lost. Users are advised to write down their password and phrase and keep it in a secure location. FileVault is enabled by default on new Apple devices. It can be manually turned off in the settings menu.