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Encrypting Files

Sometimes you need to store sensitive documents in an insecure location. For example, you may want to back up to a server that you don't control or trust. The best way to do this is with an encrypted disk image. This stores your files with strong encryption so that nobody can see their contents, or even their names and folder structure.

Disk Utility is provided as part of Mac OS X, and is used to manage encrypted disk images. Once you create the disk image, you can use it as a location in Synk like any other location. It can even automatically mount the disk image as needed, if you provide Synk with the password in the settings.

For more information on using Disk Utility to create encrypted disk images, search Disk Utility Help for "encryption." As of this writing (Mac OS X v10.6.4), this link will take you directly to the right page.

What happened to Synk 6's encryption?

Synk 6 had its own built-in encryption that we added as a result of some contractual obligations with a hard drive manufacturer that was bundling Synk with their drives.

There are two main limitations to the solution provided by Synk 6. First, while it used the same underlying AES encryption that secure disk images use on the raw data, the way that the data was organized was unique to Synk and required Synk to decrypt. Second, while the data was encrypted and unreadable, the file and folder structure was reflected normally in the filesystem and visible to anybody; in some cases, this information is also sensitive.

Now that those contractual obligations have run their course, we have removed the custom encryption for the Synk 7 release, and now suggest that all users use the superior encrypted disk image method.