Encrypted Drive Keeps Files Secure
Lost or had a laptop stolen that is packed with sensitive files? Fort Lauderdale computer repair technicians say that - thankfully - it may not be as big a deal as you think.
Seagate Technology has unveiled the world's first laptop hard disk drive with built-in encryption, or data-scrambling, capabilities.
Analysts say the new drives offer an easier way for Ft. Lauderdale computer services, government agencies and private citizens to secure laptops against potentially crippling losses or thefts.
If your laptop and its data have in some way been compromised, you are certainly not alone. Studies show that nationally, over 93 million private records have been placed at possible risk in the past year.
The biggest such flub came earlier this year, when the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs said a laptop containing the records of 28 million Americans were somehow stolen from the home of an agency employee.
Encryption is hardly new. But software encryption programs, such as PGP Disk, remain a tiny market. In fact, some Broward computer services aren't even familiar with them to the point where they can help you.
Some studies estimate that encryption software and tools are worth about $200 million a year - a figure dwarfed by the $12 billion spent in 2005 for anti-virus programs, spyware, spam filters, firewalls and other related security software bought by American consumers.
The problem with software-based hard drive encryption, Ft. Lauderdale computer repair experts say, is that users have to make a conscious effort to add, use and manage programs. Thus, the widespread integration of an encrypted hard drive that's effective could be a major deal.
The primary focal point of the new hardware-based system is a chip that, built into the drive, will serve to encode and decode all data traveling to or from the disk. It must be installed in the laptop by the manufacturer, but the user or system admin will be able to run it after that.
ONE KEY POINT: Don't lose or forget the password you pick out, because you absolutely can't get around it to get the data you need un-encrypted without entering the proper password.
Of course, that is also a selling point. Encrypting a drive, whether in hardware or software, would prevent a thief from turning on the PC or even accessing the data by removing the drive and placing it in another.
