# Ext Hard Drive Encryption

**URL:** https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/ext-hard-drive-encryption/29856
**Category:** Questions
**Created:** 2025-08-07T18:56:22Z
**Posts:** 6

## Post 1 by @wrapper — 2025-08-07T18:56:22Z

I’ve previously used Veracrypt to set up whole hard drive encryption for external drives. However this is a fairly convoluted setup especially on MacOS and I’m concerned it will be probitive for the other user of the drive.

Are there any other whole-drive (not per file) encryption methods that don’t require as much tinkering with the OS?

Thanks!

---

## Post 2 by @anon39279085 — 2025-08-07T19:00:23Z

VeraCrypt or Cryptomator.  
Simple as that.

---

## Post 3 by @fria — 2025-08-07T19:02:21Z

> **[Encrypt and protect a storage device with a password in Disk Utility on Mac](https://support.apple.com/guide/disk-utility/encrypt-protect-a-storage-device-password-dskutl35612/mac)**
>
> In Disk Utility on your Mac, protect sensitive information on a storage device by requiring users to enter a password to access its files.

you can just use the built in encryption in macOS. It won’t be cross-platform though.

---

## Post 4 by @anon39279085 — 2025-08-07T19:05:05Z

this too yes

---

## Post 5 by @wrapper — 2025-08-07T19:10:06Z

The other option I had which I am not confident in is the drive (Transcend) has a tool for 256 AES encryption but of course this is not audited, does not meet any standards etc.

I can’t really do OS restricted either, so it sounds like I might need to stick with Veracrypt

Thanks for your tips!

---

## Post 6 by @fria — 2025-08-07T19:17:29Z

If your drive isn’t compliant with Opal 2.0 I wouldn’t rely on that.

> **[Your All-in-One Guide to Self-Encrypting Drives (SEDs)](https://www.trentonsystems.com/en-us/resource-hub/blog/self-encrypting-drives)**
>
> Self-encrypting drives are a great way to protect your sensitive data at the hardware level. Learn more about them in this blog post.