{
  "slug": "filevault",
  "category": "file-encryption",
  "name": "FileVault",
  "description": "Full-disk encryption built into macOS that encrypts the startup volume with XTS-AES-128. The recovery key can be kept locally or escrowed with an iCloud account or a device management server.",
  "website": "https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/protect-data-on-your-mac-with-filevault-mh11785/mac",
  "license": null,
  "platforms": [
    "macos"
  ],
  "jurisdiction": {
    "code": "US",
    "name": "United States",
    "eyes": "Five Eyes",
    "eu": false,
    "gdpr": false,
    "cloud_act": "provider"
  },
  "pick": false,
  "pick_reason": null,
  "disclosure": null,
  "grade": "D",
  "score": 45,
  "coverage": 100,
  "summary": "FileVault scores 45 out of 100 (grade D) on the file encryption criteria. It meets 1 of 4 criteria: no ads or data sales. It partly meets no trackers or telemetry and independent audit. It does not meet open source. It is based in the United States: Five Eyes member; subject to the US CLOUD Act.",
  "url": "https://privacyratings.com/file-encryption/filevault/",
  "markdown": "https://privacyratings.com/file-encryption/filevault/index.md",
  "answers": {
    "open_source": {
      "title": "Open source",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Closed source."
    },
    "no_trackers": {
      "title": "No trackers or telemetry",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/data/en/device-analytics/",
      "note": "No third-party trackers in the app, and sharing device analytics with Apple is opt-in. Apple web pages load Apple's own analytics (ac-analytics, sent to metrics.apple.com) by default."
    },
    "no_ads": {
      "title": "No ads or data sales",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/en-ww/",
      "note": "Included with macOS, which is paid for through hardware sales. No ads in the feature."
    },
    "independent_audit": {
      "title": "Independent audit",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://www.niap-ccevs.org/products/11448",
      "note": "FileVault is Common Criteria certified against the Full Drive Encryption protection profiles, with certification and validation reports published, but no full security audit report is public."
    },
    "transparency_report": {
      "title": "Transparency report",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "user_notice": {
      "title": "Tells users about requests",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "tls": {
      "title": "TLS configuration",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "security_headers": {
      "title": "Security headers",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "web_standards": {
      "title": "Modern web standards",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    }
  },
  "tests": {
    "ssllabs": null,
    "observatory": null,
    "internetnl_web": null,
    "internetnl_mail": null,
    "trackers": [],
    "tested_at": "2026-10-01T06:38:20.029Z"
  },
  "last_modified": "2026-10-01T06:56:31Z"
}