my CAT preparation

Nishit K. Sinha, author of CAT preparation books and founder and CEO of dueNorth

How to protect your data on a Laptop

Simple steps toward data protection on a laptop How to protect data on a laptop each and every one of us has the means to minimize the loss associated with losing a laptop. The tools are readily available, and in many cases they’re free. Let’s take a look at some of the steps you can take right now to avoid a catastrophic data loss.

1. Set a BIOS Password:

                                Most laptops let you set a boot password in the BIOS that will prevent the PC from booting if someone enters the wrong password. it should stop the average person.

2. Set a Windows User Account and Administrator Password:

                                This will prevent anyone from accessing your personal data or logging your laptop via the administrator account. You can also assign an account lockout to your user account. After an unauthorized person fails to enter the correct password a certain number of times, the account is disabled automatically.

3. Biometric Scanners:

                                An alternative to passwords is biometric security, which includes things like retinal scanners, facial recognition technology, and fingerprint readers. While each of these security measures adds a layer of complexity to your system, they’re really only a deterrent for someone with average to moderate technical skills.

4. Hardware Encryption:

                                The most effective way to protect your data is to encrypt it. On an encrypted drive, the data remains encrypted even if the drive is moved to a different system entirely. Depending on the level of encryption you implement, it would be almost impossible for someone to recover your data without the key used to decipher it.

So how do you do it?

                      Let’s take a look at two of the more popular programs available.

                      BitLocker Drive Encryption is a full disk encryption feature included with the Ultimate and Enterprise editions of Microsoft’s Windows Vista and Windows 7 desktop operating systems.

                       If you run a version of Windows that doesn’t include BitLocker, you need to use a third-party encryption program. There are many available, but one of the most popular is TrueCrypt, which supports Microsoft Windows, both 32- and 64-bit versions, Mac OS X, and the Linux operating systems.

                      The TrueCrypt site is also packed with extensive documentation that does a tremendous job explaining just about everything you’ll ever need to know about encryption and the encryption process; a Beginner’s Tutorial, defining each of the algorithms available; the benefits of hidden volumes; erasing signs of the encryption process, and so much more. Best of all, it’s free.

                       Remember, you have all the tools you need to secure your laptop, so use them. No one thinks it will happen to them, but as the statistics show, it’s not just possible — it’s probable. Should that day come, your loss will never lead to anything more than the cost of the laptop itself.