One of the most effective ways of stopping data theft is to use encryption software on computers and digital data storage devices. It will not prevent the theft of a computer, or even help you recover your data--but if you or your company's main purpose is to prevent the theft of data, encryption software like AlertBoot is what you're looking for.
Encryption works by scrambling information. For example, "this particular sentence in quotation marks" could end up looking like this: "xhsn sndnnsnds nwn3n2n3 23 2n3nDns snskskl." Of course, the point is not to just randomize the data; there is a rule as to how it becomes scrambled. (Otherwise, it would be impossible for you to recover that data.) This rule is known as an "encryption algorithm," and if you can create one that's pretty much unbreakable...well, the National Security Agency wants to talk to you. Why? Because it's pretty hard to create an encryption algorithm that's pretty much unbreakable (technically, all encryption algorithms are "breakable" via brute force). The NSA supposedly asks for first dibs on the technology if you, the algorithm's "inventor," happen to be a US citizen. As you can infer from the above story, a well-developed encryption algorithm is powerful stuff (otherwise, the men in black wouldn't be interested). And there's only a handful that work to acceptable standards--if they work at all--two of them being RSA and AES. Pretty sad when you consider it's a matter of scrambling data (which in turn is testament to how difficult it is to develop a functioning and effective encryption formula.)
Encryption works by scrambling information. For example, "this particular sentence in quotation marks" could end up looking like this: "xhsn sndnnsnds nwn3n2n3 23 2n3nDns snskskl." Of course, the point is not to just randomize the data; there is a rule as to how it becomes scrambled. (Otherwise, it would be impossible for you to recover that data.)
This rule is known as an "encryption algorithm," and if you can create one that's pretty much unbreakable...well, the National Security Agency wants to talk to you. Why? Because it's pretty hard to create an encryption algorithm that's pretty much unbreakable (technically, all encryption algorithms are "breakable" via brute force). The NSA supposedly asks for first dibs on the technology if you, the algorithm's "inventor," happen to be a US citizen.
As you can infer from the above story, a well-developed encryption algorithm is powerful stuff (otherwise, the men in black wouldn't be interested). And there's only a handful that work to acceptable standards--if they work at all--two of them being RSA and AES. Pretty sad when you consider it's a matter of scrambling data (which in turn is testament to how difficult it is to develop a functioning and effective encryption formula.)
There aren't only different encryption algorithms out there, though. Even when using the same encryption method, there are different approaches to encryption. For example, there is hard drive encryption, where the hard disk in your computer is encrypted. There is file encryption, where a particular file (or files) are encrypted. And there are more complicated variations, such as where only e-mails with particular data are encrypted (a message is encrypted, for example, because it contains a number such as 444-13-4232, which could be indicative of a Social Security number).
There aren't only different encryption algorithms out there, though. Even when using the same encryption method, there are different approaches to encryption.
For example, there is hard drive encryption, where the hard disk in your computer is encrypted. There is file encryption, where a particular file (or files) are encrypted. And there are more complicated variations, such as where only e-mails with particular data are encrypted (a message is encrypted, for example, because it contains a number such as 444-13-4232, which could be indicative of a Social Security number).
So, knowing the above, what is the best encryption software out there? Well, it depends on what your needs are. For example, if you constantly download sensitive files for work onto your computer, hard disk encryption would probably be the best option. Since anything on the hard drive is protected, one wouldn't need to keep track of the different files. On the other hand, if you frequently e-mail sensitive files, then some variation of file encryption is required since the file will be leaving the confines of a hard drive, and wouldn't be protected via hard drive encryption anymore. In order to find what suits your and your company's needs best, you've got to sit down and figure out where your security weaknesses happen to be; what needs to be protected; figure out the impact on your workflow; and a variety of other factors. Once that is done, you will find that there are numerous factors you haven't thought about, such as what is the best approach to encrypting thousands of computers (centrally managed encryption may be required in such circumstances)? Or, what do I do about USB port protection?
So, knowing the above, what is the best encryption software out there? Well, it depends on what your needs are. For example, if you constantly download sensitive files for work onto your computer, hard disk encryption would probably be the best option. Since anything on the hard drive is protected, one wouldn't need to keep track of the different files.
On the other hand, if you frequently e-mail sensitive files, then some variation of file encryption is required since the file will be leaving the confines of a hard drive, and wouldn't be protected via hard drive encryption anymore.
In order to find what suits your and your company's needs best, you've got to sit down and figure out where your security weaknesses happen to be; what needs to be protected; figure out the impact on your workflow; and a variety of other factors.
Once that is done, you will find that there are numerous factors you haven't thought about, such as what is the best approach to encrypting thousands of computers (centrally managed encryption may be required in such circumstances)? Or, what do I do about USB port protection?