🟠 Lesson 005: Your Mac’s "Panic Button" for Theft 🚨

Your Mac is password-protected. But what if it’s lost or stolen? A thief can't log in, but a sophisticated one can physically remove the hard drive and access all your "protected" data directly. Your taxes, private photos, and client files are all wide open.

 A login password is just a locked door. It doesn't stop someone from taking the entire safe. Without encryption, your data is a sitting duck.

Your Mac has a built-in "panic button" for this exact scenario: FileVault.

FileVault is full-disk encryption. It doesn't just lock the door; it scrambles the entire contents of the safe into unreadable gibberish. Without your password, your data is just digital noise. If your Mac is gone, your data is still safe.

🎥 Video guide

📖 How to

This is a one-time setup that provides permanent peace of mind.

• Click the Apple menu and open System Settings.
• Select Privacy & Security in the sidebar.
• Click on FileVault and flip the switch to On.

CRITICAL STEP: You will be given a Recovery Key. You must save this key somewhere safe, separate from your Mac (e.g., in a password manager or written down in a secure physical location). If you forget your Mac's password, this key is the only other way to unlock your data.

That's it. Your Mac will encrypt your drive in the background. From now on, your files are secure even if your device falls into the wrong hands.