- #How to encrypt your laptop computer mac os#
- #How to encrypt your laptop computer install#
- #How to encrypt your laptop computer upgrade#
- #How to encrypt your laptop computer portable#
- #How to encrypt your laptop computer software#
Once installed, an additional context menu is available in Windows Explorer that allows files and folders to be encrypted (and decrypted) with a key or a passphrase. Using AxcryptĪxcrypt allows the encryption of individual files - including on network/shared drives - which can be useful when sending a specific file to another user or storing files somewhere other than central University storage or a device protected with BitLocker. To do this, right click on the drive via Computer/My Computer and select the option to Turn BitLocker On. You can turn BitLocker off for an external drive/USB stick at any time as well, either temporarily by suspending it, or permanently by decrypting the drive. The encrypted data can be decrypted on other Windows machines.
You can also use BitLocker to encrypt the data on external devices such as USB pens.
#How to encrypt your laptop computer install#
If you are using an older laptop, or non-standard hardware, you should enable BitLocker encryption by running the Bitlocker Disk Encryption utility available via Install University Applications. Staff who log on with a valid University account will be able to work as normal. You will not notice any difference when using your laptop. The majority of current University laptops are encrypted, by default, with BitLocker. This means that if a University laptop is lost or stolen, any data that has been stored on the hard drive of the laptop cannot be accessed by unauthorised users, even by removing the hard drive, helping staff to protect important and sensitive data from accidental or malicious loss or damage. If you are using a Mac, you can use a third-party application such as FileVault. If you are using Windows you can quickly and easily protect your files using BitLocker, as detailed below.
#How to encrypt your laptop computer software#
What software can I use to encrypt my data?
#How to encrypt your laptop computer portable#
Never send passwords by email.īe aware that modern encryption techniques are virtually unbreakable so it is just as important to secure the original document on a network drive as it is to ensure only an encrypted copy is placed on a portable device or the hard disk of a desk computer. Sharing the password by telephone or text after verifying you are communicating with the right person is ideal. If you need to share encrypted documents with others, then you will need to tell them the password. We offer comprehensive advice on creating secure and memorable passwords. The longer and more complex the password is, the stronger the protection. Remember that the protection provided by encryption is only as strong as the password used. What is encryption?Įncryption converts data into a coded form that cannot be read without knowing a password or phrase, sometimes known as the encryption key. The security of confidential information is the responsibility of the individual member of staff or student NOT the University, nor the line manager or Head of Department. There have been numerous reports in the media of confidential data being stored on devices such as laptops or backup drives that are then lost or stolen. For example, Ubuntu uses eCryptfs to encrypt a user's home directory and the option to enable encryption is offered as a checkbox during the standard installation process.We all need to take the security of our personal and University information very seriously. Linux systems usually include encryption software as standard.
#How to encrypt your laptop computer mac os#
Mac OS X, has included the FileVault encryption tool since 10.3 (Panther).
#How to encrypt your laptop computer upgrade#
However, the software is not included in all versions of Windows so you may need to upgrade in order to use it (BitLocker is included in Windows 7 Ultimate or Enterprise and Windows 8 Pro editions). Microsoft Windows includes an encryption tool called BitLocker which can be used to encrypt all or part of your hard drive. University laptops supplied by IT Services come with encryption as standard but if you have your own laptop, the best option is to use the encryption tools which are supplied as part of the operating system. It's possible to encrypt the entire contents of the laptop, or you can choose to protect particular folders. If you have confidential data on a laptop, you should ensure it's encrypted so that other people can't get hold of it if the laptop is stolen.
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