Password Protection for your Mac Files – How to Do It

In this day and age, computers are an essential part of life. Some examples include: shopping, social interaction, work, entertainment, and communication. They are even used to hold information that some would much rather keep private.
But how does one keep files private on Macs? This is a guide to help place a password on files you’d rather keep hidden from prying eyes.
Getting Started
The first thing you are going to want to do is open your “Disk Utility” in order to get to your File menus. Once you’re in your menus, open up “New” in order to select “Disk Image from Folder” in your options. From there, you should be able to select the folder in which you want to place this password on.
Encryption Options
Now that you’ve got your selected folder awaiting its new lockdown, the next thing you need to do is choose an encryption for it. One such option is the “AES-128” and is the basic option to choose.
If the file is something that is top secret and you desire top notch security on it, then you’ll want to select “bit-256” instead. Basically, the difference is that it would take much, much longer to get through the bit-256 than the AES-128. Unless you have some super secretive information, however, it won’t make too huge of a difference.
Password Time
The moment you’ve been waiting for has come. Enter in your chosen password, and make sure it’s one you won’t be forgetting any time soon. Follow all the steps and be sure to type that password in twice.
Before you are complete, if you want even further security on your newly password protected folder, make sure the box labeled “add password to keychain” is not checked. This way, your password is not stored onto your Mac keychain and no one else can accidentally stumble upon it.
Got Extra Files?
Ok, say you have other files that you want to protect before ejecting from your world of password protected files. This is the easy part. You want to start out the same as before, but you’ll want to select “Blank Disk Image” this time around.
After this, set your size limit for the disk image. Give it a name, choose its encryption, and then voila! You’re all set.
Finishing Up
Once you’re all done with the folders you wanted to place passwords on, you’ll want to make sure you eject the disk image. If you do not eject it, then anyone can access it and all of that hard work will have been for nothing. And again, make sure to remember the password. Otherwise, you may never see those files again!