Today a reader asked me if there was a way to protect a text on the iPad or under macOS (on his MacBook) from strangers' eyes. It doesn't have to be a high security standard or encrypted, but it should be a simple way of preventing someone from accidentally coming across the document and viewing the text. There were no high demands on the word processing. A simple text document would be sufficient.
Chapter in this post:
Pages allows password protection
I myself had not dealt with the topic before and therefore had to go to Google myself first. I came across a solution, which is quite complicated: You put the text file in a virtual volume that you encrypt. This works and probably also offers a high level of security thanks to the 128-bit encryption, but it prevents the file from being opened and edited quickly, as you always have to mount the volume first. So keep looking ...
I came across the simplest solution you could wish for: Open a new document with Apple's own word processing program “Pages” and then go to “Set Password” in the “File” menu. In the following dialog you will be asked twice to enter the password and an optional reminder. Once this is done, you can edit and save the document.
If you now close the document and reopen it, you will be asked for the password, without which you cannot see the content of the text.
Password protection also possible with Numbers
Incidentally, the procedure described above not only works with Pages but is also available under Numbers and certainly available in Keynote as well. It's so easy to protect your text from prying eyes. ;-)
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Jens has been running the blog since 2012. He acts as Sir Apfelot for his readers and helps them with technical problems. In his spare time he rides electric unicycles, takes photos (preferably with the iPhone, of course), climbs around in the Hessian mountains or hikes with the family. His articles deal with Apple products, news from the world of drones or solutions to current bugs.