Advice Request encrypt files versus password protect?

[bellgamin]

I have good security on my computer: G-Data Internet Security (includes firewall) + VoodooShield + SpyShelter (includes HIPS & anti-keylogger & granular anti-exe). Even so...........

Q-1: Should I be worried about identity theft via my computer?
Q-2: If answer is YES to Q-1, should I (a) Encrypt my sensitive data files? OR (b) Would password protecting those files be sufficient?

 

[Thales]

Don't worry about keyloggers. Don't download cracks and keygens and you will be fine.
G-Data and voodooshield are fine, so Spyshelter is not necessary. less is more!
Encrypt your harddrive with Bitlocker that's enough. However you should know default Bitlocker comes with 128 bit encryption. Command line or GPO edit is necessary to use 256 bit but that's easy.

 

[bellgamin]

Encrypt your harddrive with Bitlocker that's enough.

Pardon my ignorance but once my HD is encrypted, how do I do my computer work? Won't the HD need to be decrypted while I'm working?

 

[Victor M]

BitLocker drive encryption only offers protection when your computer is off. That way, anybody booting your PC with Linux cannot read your HD; neither can anyone remove your HD to put it into another PC.

Everything is automatically decrypted when you sign in.

 

[bellgamin]

So... wouldn't password-protecting my key files of sensitive data work almost as good as encryption, thereby eliminating the added hassle when I image my HD 2-3 times per week?

I have also heard that an encryption glitch might contaminate data on the HD -- true?

 

[n8chavez]

So....a couple things: 1. Holy hell that's a lot of repetitive security layers. Most of that is not needed. Ditch the scanners and spyware shelter. They won't add anything to what VS already offers. And , b. Yes, BitLocker is cool. Yes, it can be useful. But it presents it's own set of issues. DDrives that are encrypted are very diffucult to back up and restore correctly. That being said, there's nothing I recommend more than a reliable disk imaging program with externally stored images. If it's a choice between the maybe possible and the reliability of in backup, I choose the backup every time. If this system stays at home, you don't need encryption. If this system does not stay at home, you MIGHT need encryption. But is encryption worth the tradeoff? I never err on the side of paranoia for paranoia's sake.

 

[bellgamin]

Ditch the scanners and spyware shelter.

Hi @n8chavez -- I haven't seen you around in a while. May God richly bless thee & thine!

My security is only 3 layers & each layer does security in a distinctly different way than the other 2. Even with those 3 on board, my aging laptop is still as prancy as a 2-year-old mare in heat (oestrus).

I especially like SpyShelter. I am a long-time user of HIPS apps & can tweak them razor sharp. Ergo, paring those layers down would be a solution -- BUT I don't have a problem.

If this system stays at home, you don't need encryption. If this system does not stay at home, you MIGHT need encryption.

I'm old & house-bound. My laptop is always within arm's reach & my house has a great alarm system. I have happily learned that encryption is not urgently needed by me in my situation. THANKS for your help and much aloha to you.