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One way to encrypt the iTunes library Apps
Should you desire to encrypt your iTunes music library, this is one possible way:
  1. Quit iTunes.
  2. Create an encrypted sparse image using Disk Utility.
  3. Double-click on the image to mount it. Password required.
  4. Copy the iTunes folder from ~/Music onto the disk image.
  5. Move the iTunes folder in ~/Music to the Trash, after confirming your copy worked.
  6. Create an alias of the disk image's iTunes folder and place it in ~/Music.
  7. Eject the disk image.
That's it. Your music library will now use the encrypted image to store playlists and music files. When iTunes is started, the disk image will automatically mount, asking for the password. You may use Keychain to store the password if you wish.
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One way to encrypt the iTunes library | 6 comments | Create New Account
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One way to encrypt the iTunes library
Authored by: xcgr on Nov 01, '05 02:38:11PM

I'd suggest backing up your music first before doing this. If your computer should crash or suffer a power loss while the sparseimage is mounted, the sparseimage will become irretrievably corrupted, and all your music will be lost. As far as I know, Apple does not have any tools for repairing sparseimages.



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One way to encrypt the iTunes library
Authored by: rspeed on Nov 01, '05 04:42:34PM

Disk utility in Panther and Tiger can give a good try at it.

If not, there are workarounds to get other software (such as DiskWarrior) to recognize unmountable disk images.



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One way to encrypt the iTunes library
Authored by: n8gray on Nov 01, '05 04:14:19PM
Of all the information on my computer, I can honestly say that my music library is probably what I would be least interested in encrypting. But hey, whatever floats yer boat.

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One way to encrypt the iTunes library
Authored by: zpjet on Nov 02, '05 03:11:47AM

true, if i were interested in encrypting those (i could understand pirates were) i would just turn on that filevault. having music and movies in neat place was one of the reasons why i haven't done it yet. huh maybe my pb is fast enough to crypt movies, too ;)



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One way to encrypt the iTunes library
Authored by: sbryan on Nov 02, '05 10:27:29AM

FileVault keeps all the files and folders in your home directory encrypted. That includes the Music, Movies, and Pictures folders. By default iTunes locates its media files in your Music directory so they would be protected by FileVault.

The Documents directory is also in your home directory so if you keep all your personal data (letters, tax returns, etc) in there then FileVault keeps all your important personal data private. I don't know why anyone would not use this remarkable feature of OS X. Without your passphrase your personal information is simply unavailable to others.



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One way to encrypt the iTunes library
Authored by: PanicRoom on Nov 02, '05 04:29:53AM

Remember: iTunes now does video. When I read this tip I assumed it was aimed at those users who use iTunes as a media player for all their downloaded porn clips and wanted a bit of privacy for those files. Otherwise, even for us in the tin-foil hat community, I can think of little reason why anyone would want to encrypt their iTunes folder.



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