Password Protect External HDD

[sep9001]

Hi

Is there anyway to password protect an external HDD so if I lose it people cannot get to the data?

Thank you

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

I encrypt things with Keepass, which is open sorce and cross platform...

KeePass - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Contax]

Bitlocker to Go is what most large organisations will use. I think it requires PRO versions of Windows to encrypt.

KeePass is a great password manager (I use it myself) but I do not believe that it can do whole-disk encryption.

 

[Sky]

Bitlocker.

 

[sep9001]

Thank you all, need something that is usable on both mac and well as windows.

 

[Dave Canon]

I only need to protect a few things like passwords; no need to protect all documents and photos.

Dave

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

KeePass is a great password manager (I use it myself) but I do not believe that it can do whole-disk encryption.

You're right. For some reason I got "passwords" stuck in my head.

Thank you all, need something that is usable on both mac and well as windows.

There's advice on open source, cross platform encryption here...

5 Best TrueCrypt Alternatives in 2026 - ProPrivacy

TrueCrypt has been discontinued, so we've compiled a list of the very best open-source encryption app alternatives.

proprivacy.com

 

[Andy Taylor]

VeraCrypt is freeware and audited for security: https://www.veracrypt.fr/en/Downloads.html

It's a pity you don't just need this for MacOS as that has built-in encryption for drives, just choose the file system type as APFS Volume • APFS (Encrypted) when formtting a new drive.
You will then need a password to unlock every time it is mounted (although this can be saved on your own Mac).