How do you secure a laptop?

number41

number41

number41

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587
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Southampton
Hi all, just got a call from my dad saying his laptop has been stolen whilst in London. Luckily I persuaded him to backup his work last month and gave him a portable hard disk, usb key, etc to keep safe so no work was lost.

Main thing is really the documents on the laptop which has got me thinking how other people secure their files when carried around.

Apart from a startup password and windows password what encryption programs are easy to use or built into Windows XP that my dad could use? Bearing in mind he's not IT literate! Just something that runs silently encrypting the hard disk would be great, but would still allow him to backup to the external disk when needed.

Over to you OCuk!!
 
Yeah it makes a virtual volume or image and you just mount it but it will ask for a password when you do :)

so if anyone turned on your laptop on they will have no way to access anything in that volume without the password.
 
What happens if the hard disk is simply removed and installed into another laptop? Would the files still be protected?
 
Personally use folder lock to stop one of my mates robbing my porno :(.

Got 3 levels of encryption, pretty handy I suspose. Doesn't create a virtual drive, just locks its own folder and encrypts it.
 
Been trying out TrueCrypt and got the hang of it now. Was wondering if your encrypted files can only be used on machines with TrueCrypt installed and you they can be carried around fine :) If you carry your items on a USB key TrueCrypt does need not be installed to work. The following files truecrypt.exe, truecrypt.sys, and your encrypted volume are all that is needed. Run truecrypt.exe and its just like having it installed locally! Doesnt even need to be installed!!

Now I've found that type of encryption, does anyone know of any good open source/paid full drive encryption tools? Those that ask for a password on bootup and then no longer bug the user? Would probably be simpler for a non-IT person to understand than having to mount volumes, etc! Gonna check out safeguard in the meantime as posted above thanks :)

EDIT: Dont mind paying for it but safeguard starts at $240 :O Bit too much me thinks!
 
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number41 said:
EDIT: Dont mind paying for it but safeguard starts at $240 :O Bit too much me thinks!
Click to expand...
Can't be very important work then o.o

I use Filevault on my Macbook and Truecrypt on Windows :)

iirc win xp pro has some sort of encryption built in, too.
 
If he's getting a new laptop, get a thinkpad.
The fingerprint reader+the TPM chip+vista business/ultimate will see his data being mega secure without slowdown due to software level encryption being used by the other solutions.
 
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Ahh yes! Didnt even think that new laptops will of course come with Vista!! Good thinking! Although I cant see them coming with ultimate edition :(

Anyway to upgrade from business edition that they will most likely come with?

EDIT: Just checked the M$ website and its possible using their "Windows Anytime Upgrade" thingy \o/
 
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To OP

I use PGP Desktop Pro. The 'full disk' option encrypts the entire disk with military spec encryption. Without the password one cannot even boot the machine. Provided your password is good (and it will let you know) you can relax about your data if the lappy is nicked.

It is very simple to use, even for a numpty like me.
 
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