You've installed disk encryption software on your computer. You were promised the process would be short and painless, and, wonder of wonders, it was true! Well, kind of. You didn't have to spend much time in front of the computer. However, now you're noticing that your computer's hard disk light is blinking like crazy. What's going on? Well, your computer's hard drive is in the process of encrypting itself.
You've installed disk encryption software on your computer. You were promised the process would be short and painless, and, wonder of wonders, it was true! Well, kind of.
You didn't have to spend much time in front of the computer. However, now you're noticing that your computer's hard disk light is blinking like crazy. What's going on?
Well, your computer's hard drive is in the process of encrypting itself.
When you use disk encryption software, you're literally encrypting (protecting) your entire hard disk drive. That's why some companies call it full disk encryption (FDE) or whole disk encryption. Because each sector of the hard disk is being encrypted, it's going to take a while with today's disk capacities: the bigger the storage capacity, the longer it takes (think of it this way: how long do you think it would take to fill up your hard drive? Then tack on an hour or so on top of that, and that's how long it takes). The good news is that the use of encryption software on your hard drives doesn't prevent you from using it while it's doing its thing. At least, it doesn't for AlertBoot endpoint encryption software (and most--heck, all--of the other ones that I know of). In other words, while the software is going through the process of ensuring your hard drive is protected, you can use the computer as you normally would: surf the internet, type up an e-mail, tweeter to your heart's delight, etc.
When you use disk encryption software, you're literally encrypting (protecting) your entire hard disk drive. That's why some companies call it full disk encryption (FDE) or whole disk encryption.
Because each sector of the hard disk is being encrypted, it's going to take a while with today's disk capacities: the bigger the storage capacity, the longer it takes (think of it this way: how long do you think it would take to fill up your hard drive? Then tack on an hour or so on top of that, and that's how long it takes).
The good news is that the use of encryption software on your hard drives doesn't prevent you from using it while it's doing its thing. At least, it doesn't for AlertBoot endpoint encryption software (and most--heck, all--of the other ones that I know of).
In other words, while the software is going through the process of ensuring your hard drive is protected, you can use the computer as you normally would: surf the internet, type up an e-mail, tweeter to your heart's delight, etc.
About the only thing you shouldn't do is turn off the computer. Or rather, you shouldn't cut the power off suddenly, such as letting the batteries die or doing a hard boot. Usually, it is possible to turn off the computer if you can't quite afford to have your computer up and running while it's encrypting (you have to go home, for example). Just remember to follow the normal procedures for shutting off a computer. In such cases, the encryption process will continue from where it dropped off.
About the only thing you shouldn't do is turn off the computer. Or rather, you shouldn't cut the power off suddenly, such as letting the batteries die or doing a hard boot.
Usually, it is possible to turn off the computer if you can't quite afford to have your computer up and running while it's encrypting (you have to go home, for example). Just remember to follow the normal procedures for shutting off a computer. In such cases, the encryption process will continue from where it dropped off.