Security

[Devastator]

Hi Guys,

I'm off to university in around 2 weeks, and just been thinking about the security of my PC.

I've extended my user password and stuck a BIOS password on (I know it's easy enough to remove) but is there anything else I could do to prevent people accessing my machine, or making it much more difficult for someone if it was stolen?

I don't want anything that is going to completely hog system resources.

Everything will be insured of course, it'd just be nice to try and deter/prevent anything from happening.

Thanks.

[EzyStvy]

Be sure and backup your important stuff like you've been doing for years

[David M]

Back up your term papers etc offsite so if everything gets ripped off including your backup drive you still have access to the important stuff.

[Devastator]

Yeh the backing up had pretty much already occurred to me Planning on getting a Google Chrome OS laptop when it comes out so all important stuff will be on there and save to the cloud anyways.

Any other suggestions as to what I can do would be appreciated. (Especially just stopping people accessing the drive)

Thanks.

[dcm202]

Encrypt your entire system with Truecrypt.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Get a Kensington lock.

[Devastator]

Originally Posted by dcm202 Encrypt your entire system with Truecrypt.

Since I am using Win7 Ultimate could I not just use BitLocker? (only just thought of it) Obviously if Truecrypt is leaps and bounds better that is a preferable idea.

Originally Posted by Nuclear Krusader Get a Kensington lock.

Looks great, checked it out on wiki but I can't find an attachment for any of my case or monitor, either that or I'm just blind

Thanks.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Do'h, for some reason I assumed you were talking anent a laptop, since you mentioned the chances of it getting stolen.

[Devastator]

Originally Posted by Nuclear Krusader Do'h, for some reason I assumed you were talking anent a laptop, since you mentioned the chances of it getting stolen.

As previously mentioned I might get a Google Chrome OS netbook, so it will be useful for that.

It's given me the idea that I could arrange my own cable type thing with a hole drilled in the case and the desk and secured with a padlock.

May all sound over the top but I saved up for this PC for a long time and I don't especially want to lose it, even if the chances of that happening are very small.

Thanks.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Some cases already come with an eyelet for locking them, and also preventing people from opening them.

[dcm202]

Originally Posted by Devastator Since I am using Win7 Ultimate could I not just use BitLocker? (only just thought of it) Obviously if Truecrypt is leaps and bounds better that is a preferable idea.

Bitlocker should be fine. I didn't realize you had Ultimate

[Devastator]

Originally Posted by Nuclear Krusader Some cases already come with an eyelet for locking them, and also preventing people from opening them.

Haven't got that either unfortunately, not to worry.

Originally Posted by dcm202 Bitlocker should be fine. I didn't realize you had Ultimate

Tried Bitlocker but requires TPM, and my hard drive doesn't have it. I found a work around but it requires to have a memory stick plugged in when you want to use the machine, so will go with Truecrypt, looks much better anyways I think - thanks for the recommendation