Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Crypto Leash for Laptops?

Posted by michael on from the taking-my-vaio-for-a-walk dept.

timman999 writes "New Scientist reports a new device that will automatically encrypt all the data on a laptop when it is separated from its owner. It uses a small receiver and the user has to wear a transmitter on his wrist."

5 of 243 comments (clear)

  1. How to steal by Kallahar · · Score: 1, Interesting

    How to steal one of these self-encrypting laptops:

    1) steal it (many means available)
    2) as soon as possible, remove the battery.
    3) profit

    Encryption takes a whole lot of time to do, especially on the monster hard drives available today. What might be a better way would be to have the system already encrypted, and just delete any cached keys, etc. when the laptop goes out of range. This will really only stop clueless people who wouldn't have profited off any data on the computer anyway.

    Travis

  2. Wouldn't it be easier... by Marx_Mrvelous · · Score: 2, Interesting

    To just have an encrypted filesystem, and make the user type the password when it boots? Less points of failure, less expensive, and less trouble.

    --

    Moderation: Put your hand inside the puppet head!
  3. this would be great for our government! by Jonny+Ringo · · Score: 3, Interesting

    see: http://zdnet.com.com/2100-11-950155.html

    Although I'm afaid our government will probably have just as hard of time keeping track of the transmitter that goes around the wrist.

  4. Only encrypt what needs to be safe, not everything by Wee · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Why the hell would you want /usr to be encrypted? That would take like a year. All you need is to keep your personal files encrypted -- $HOME, /var/spool/mail, and so forth. I use BestCrypt on my laptop and one of my Linux servers. It does a great job whether you use Linux or Windows or both.

    On the laptop, I have an encrypted home directory. I never suspend my laptop, so I always log in/out when I use it in different locations. If someone stole it, they'd have a nearly impossible time getting to my personal files.

    On the fileserver I use it via Samba and NFS mounts. This is why I chose BestCrypt over some other kind of encrypted filesystem/volume, actually. My wife can mount a volume file from her Windows machine via Samba and I can mount them via NFS (or via Samba when I'm booted into Windows game mode).

    Best part is that there's no batteries, bracelets, rings, whatever to worry about. Just remember your passphrase and you're good to go. I'd recommend BestCrypt to anyone.

    -B

    --

    Ash and Hickory, straight-grained and true, make excellent bludgeons, dandy for the cudgeling of vegetarians.

  5. What's so cool about that? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Just use rubberhose with a wireless receiver...