Password Protect External Hard Drive

UKNeil · 04-12-2021, 02:55 PM

I want to store all my data on an external hard drive. How do I make it password protected (not encrypted)?

Emerson · 04-12-2021, 02:58 PM

If it is not encrypted then everyone with physical access to it can read it, there is nothing you can do about it.

UKNeil · 04-12-2021, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emerson

If it is not encrypted then everyone with physical access to it can read it, there is nothing you can do about it.

So if I have my external hard drive as my main drive and its encrypted will I be able to view all the files it my main drive is encrypted can i view the files as per normal in a file manager or are there differences?

TB0ne · 04-12-2021, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UKNeil

I want to store all my data on an external hard drive. How do I make it password protected (not encrypted)?

I thought you were 'leaving Linux'?
https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...ow-4175692972/

Probably a good question to ask about whatever OS you're going to. Otherwise, as written, your question doesn't make much sense. Either you encrypt the drive, or you need to password protect each individual file on it. And you do that by different means depending on what you use...some programs will let you password protect something when you save it. You may have to use GPG to do it. But you provide no details, so can't really say.

Quote:

So if I have my external hard drive as my main drive and its encrypted will I be able to view all the files it my main drive is encrypted can i view the files as per normal in a file manager or are there differences?

If you encrypt the drive, when you mount/use it, all the files will be 'normal'. Otherwise, all the files won't be viewable at all, until you provide the password(s).

UKNeil · 04-12-2021, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TB0ne

If you encrypt the drive, when you mount/use it, all the files will be 'normal'. Otherwise, all the files won't be viewable at all, until you provide the password(s).

How do I encrypt it when I mount it please?

TB0ne · 04-12-2021, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UKNeil

How do I encrypt it when I mount it please?

Again: you are providing NO DETAILS that would let anyone try to help you. Read the "Question Guidelines" link in my posting signature; we don't know the version/distro of Linux, how the drive is connected, what the operating system is you're using to get to your external drive, etc. We can't guess.

Beyond that, you again said you were 'leaving Linux', and that you did not WANT to encrypt the whole drive.

Emerson · 04-12-2021, 03:41 PM

Quote:

How do I encrypt it when I mount it please?

You do not encrypt it when you mount it, this would be a big nonsense. Let me reword it. When you mount encrypted drive then you need to provide a password or passphrase to view the contents.
There is more than one way to protect your files. You can encrypt individual files, filesystems or whole drive. In case you protect it with a password at application level then it will be encrypted, too. Laptops may offer hardware encryption, in this case the encryption will be transparent.

UKNeil · 04-12-2021, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TB0ne

Again: you are providing NO DETAILS that would let anyone try to help you. Read the "Question Guidelines" link in my posting signature; we don't know the version/distro of Linux, how the drive is connected, what the operating system is you're using to get to your external drive, etc. We can't guess.

Beyond that, you again said you were 'leaving Linux', and that you did not WANT to encrypt the whole drive.

Okay Ubuntu 20.04
2TB WD Elements External Drive connected via USB.
I'm getting confused on the encryption thing... As long as I can view/access my files as normal in the file manager then its okay if the drive is encrypted.
Yes - i was planning on leaving LINUX but i just cant bring myself to use Apple for numerous reasons.

TB0ne · 04-12-2021, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UKNeil

Okay Ubuntu 20.04
2TB WD Elements External Drive connected via USB.

Great; again, read the "Question Guidelines" link, because putting "how to encrypt external drive in ubuntu 20.04" pulls up a LOT when entered into a search engine. Along with providing details, you also need to do basic research:
https://www.hebergementwebs.com/gnu-...0-04-with-luks

You also don't say what filesystem is on that external drive.

Quote:

I'm getting confused on the encryption thing... As long as I can view/access my files as normal in the file manager then its okay if the drive is encrypted.

Which isn't what you said. There is little to be confused about....either you encrypt the DISK or the FILES. Encrypt the disk, you provide the password once, and everything on it is visible. Encrypt the files, you have to decrypt each one as you go.

Quote:

Yes - i was planning on leaving LINUX but i just cant bring myself to use Apple for numerous reasons.

Ok. So be sure you back your data up first on that external hard drive, before formatting/encrypting it.

UKNeil · 04-12-2021, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TB0ne

Great; again, read the "Question Guidelines" link, because putting "how to encrypt external drive in ubuntu 20.04" pulls up a LOT when entered into a search engine. Along with providing details, you also need to do basic research:
https://www.hebergementwebs.com/gnu-...0-04-with-luks

You also don't say what filesystem is on that external drive.

Which isn't what you said. There is little to be confused about....either you encrypt the DISK or the FILES. Encrypt the disk, you provide the password once, and everything on it is visible. Encrypt the files, you have to decrypt each one as you go.

Ok. So be sure you back your data up first on that external hard drive, before formatting/encrypting it.

Unfortunately there IS alot to be confused about when you don't understand a subject. Which is why I came on here. Thank you for your help anyway - next stop Youtube.

TB0ne · 04-12-2021, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UKNeil

Unfortunately there IS alot to be confused about when you don't understand a subject. Which is why I came on here.

...which is why it was explained, several times and in many threads on this very site. And after using Linux for so long, it's hard to understand the confusion.

Quote:

Thank you for your help anyway - next stop Youtube.

...which is the LAST place you should look for any decent advice. But good luck.

Again: you were handed not only a search term, but a link to a page with complete instructions (with pictures), and a step-by-step guide. Not sure what else you need.

dallas_cowboys · 04-12-2021, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UKNeil

I want to store all my data on an external hard drive. How do I make it password protected (not encrypted)?

connect / open DISKS format as linux file system / click password protect... you will have to back up your drive else where while it formats and changes the file system than you can drop it all back on and your drive is password protected.

TB0ne · 04-13-2021, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dallas_cowboys

connect / open DISKS format as linux file system / click password protect... you will have to back up your drive else where while it formats and changes the file system than you can drop it all back on and your drive is password protected.

Yep...that's exactly what's in the instructions/link I gave to the OP, which apparently wasn't enough.

computersavvy · 04-14-2021, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UKNeil

Unfortunately there IS alot to be confused about when you don't understand a subject. Which is why I came on here. Thank you for your help anyway - next stop Youtube.

I find that (some) YouTube videos are spot on. More are solely focused on one item and do not put it into perspective of the whole picture. In that respect it is like searching for anything on the internet: You have to filter what you receive for quality and value.

My suggestion with YouTube: Take everything as if it were biased and look for several that show the same or similar tactics/procedures to be sure you understand the core.