14 Nov 2008

Nov 13, 2008 12:00 pm

By Robert Lemos

Encrypting your hard disk to protect your data doesn’t have to be a daunting task, thanks to a large number of practical tools.

A discreetly tucked-away folder that contains your résumé, your tax returns, and other important files may be convenient for you, but it’s also a gold mine for online crooks who steal and sell digital data on a thriving black market.

Even though encrypting data unquestionably helps protect it from thieves, many users in the past felt that using encryption programs wasn’t worth the trouble. But times change: In the second half of 2007, thefts of laptops, hard drives, and computer accounted for 57 percent of sensitive data losses reported by companies, according to Symantec.

Luckily, as data theft has become more common, encryption has gotten easier to use. An array of options today–both free and paid–can keep your information safe even if someone walks off with your laptop or breaks into your PC.