The new Leopard Finder automatically shows all the images on your machine using the Smart folder “All Images”.
Now, doesn’t that sound just lovely? Well, it does unless there are images on your machine that you really don’t want friends or family seeing. I’m sure you have immediately thought of an example and I bet that what you’re thinking of rhymes with corn!
Well, there is a solution that is something you probably should do with sensitive data anyway – put these files into an encrypted disk image.
Let’s work with an example – I’ll use Smurfs, which obviously I’d be really embarrassed if my wife saw on my machine while she scrolled through Cover Flow. Let’s put these little beauties into an encrypted disk image!
1. Open Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.
2. Select New Image
3. Give your disk image a name – let’s not call it Smurfs (it’s too obvious). So, how about something like Finances?
4. Select the location for your disk image.
5. The Volume Name can be left as is or you can change it. This is the name that appears on the desktop when you double-click on the disk image.
6. Volume Size – should be large enough to store all your current images and any more you think you might add in the future. If the disk image is made too small you will need to create a new, larger disk image later and transfer your images into the larger disk image.
7. You don’t need to choose the Encryption option to prevent the files in your disk image from appearing in the Finder but if you do use encryption it will stop people opening up your disk image unless they enter the correct password.
8. Leave the Partitions as “Single partition – Apple Partition Map”.
9. Image Format – if you want the disk image to be reported as only the size of your current contents and to then grow as you add more data (up to the maximum volume size you set up in step 6 above), then choose “sparse bundle disk image”.
10. Click Create
11. If you decided use encryption, you’ll now be asked to set a password. I don’t advise having the keychain remember your password, so uncheck that option.
12. If you want help setting up a password, click on the lock icon.
13. Put in a password and repeat in the verify box.
14. Click OK
15. The disk image will appear on the desktop.
16. Drag your images into the disk image.
17. Once done, eject the disk image.
18. The images will disappear from the Finder’s “All Images” Smart folder.
19. Whenever you want to view the images, find the sparsebundle disk image (in my example, it will be in my Documents folder) and double-click on the disk image. Enter your password and then the disk image will mount on your desktop. Inside the disk image will be your images. Note: whilst the disk image is mounted, the images will be viewable in the Finder’s “All Images” Smart folder.
20. You may not like the extension .sparsebundle appearing. If that’s the case, just Get Info (Command-i) on the sparsebundle file and check “Hide extension”
So, do you use another method to prevent the Finder’s Smart folder revealing your sensitive data?
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TAGS: Finder, How-to, security
