subject: If your laptop was stolen is your private information secure? [print this page] If your laptop was stolen is your private information secure?
If you have private data on your computer that you really don't want anyone poking around at then you better start using encryption. With free open source software you can create an encrypted zone or even encrypt a whole hard drive.
Using True Crypt you can secure your data with the latest cypher, it's fairly easy to use if you have basic computer knowlege and skills. This is the only way to protect yourself!
The quickest and easiest is the create encrypted file container, with a few clicks you can create a file that stores all your documents or pictures that can only be accessed with the correct password and or keyfile.
If you don't want to bother accessing an encrypted file you can encrypt the whole hard drive. Once the drive is encrypted all you have to do is input the password on boot up and you are in, all data is secure, you can go about you business same as always and relieved to know that nobody can easily get at your private information. If you are going to do the whole drive be aware that you will need a fairly new computer with good performance because the encryption/decryption process is "on the fly" so it will degrade your computer's performance a little. That's an ok tradeoff in my mind.
Keep in mind encryption can be hacked so yours is only as secure as the password you choose, make sure you use a long password with as many characters as you can remember and try not to use common words like "user". Do not forget the password! If you forget the password all may be lost so be very careful.
