Archive for the ‘Hard Disk’ category

Why Data Encryption is Important

May 7th, 2011
Part of the EFF's DES cracking machine which w...

Data Encryption

As the technology is upgrading day by day, people are getting more involved to their work and they have very little time for the things which seem negligible at the starting but can be very dangerous in future. In today’s world 99% people are more interested in sending and receiving data through internet and mobile data storage devices. But among those 995 people 90% people do not encrypt their data though they know that the data contains personal information and the chances of data lose or hacking is very high.

Sending data through internet has high chances of getting hacked. Because the number of hackers are increasing in a rapid rate day by day and those hackers are so efficient in their job that they can easily hack the unencrypted data from the internet. And if those hacked data contains any sort of personal information then they can misuse those data, even they can make some criminal offenses by using those data and without doing anything wrong you will become a criminal. At the time of sending data through internet lot of people can easily access your data if your data is not encrypted.

Another importance of data encryption is that is helps to protect your computer from viruses. Though you may think that your computer/ laptop is protected enough because of the anti-virus and router you are using, but remember keeping your data safe from the hackers is not that easy. And if your computer becomes virus affected, then any other computer presents in your office or home can be easily affected by the virus.

Now internet is available in the hostels, cyber cafe, hotels and those connections have no protection. So the data can easily be hacked of accessed by some other person.

And data encryption also helps to protect the data of different mobile data storage devices. As the data storage devices sometimes contain personal or sensible data, so the loss of any storage device can be very harmful for us. Because any one can misuse those data. But we will keep our data encrypted then we will be sure that no one can misuse those data.

These are the main reason behind the data encryption. Data encryption not only keeps our data safe but also helps us to be tension free.

About Alertsec:-

Alertsec Xpress is the No.1 encryption service provider for hundreds of banks and financial institutions worldwide. They are providing 24*7 customer service system. By offering computer protection software, encryption with lowest TCO (Total Cost of Operation), Checkpoint and Pointec they are assuring to make data secure. For more details about Alertsec log on to: http://www.alertsec.com

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Full Disk Encryption – An Executive’s Introduction To How It Works And Other Issues

May 2nd, 2011
Icon from Nuvola icon theme for KDE 3.x.

Encryption

File encryption or Full disk encryption?? That is the most important question for most of the organizations now a day. Because some of the organizations encrypted their important files but still failed to prevent data lose, and file encryption does not allow encryption on in and out moving data. So the organizations are not finding any profit in adopting data encryption. Full disk encryption is the only solution of their anxiety.

Now the organizations are not sure whether they will apply the full disk encryption on each and every system of their organization or just on those systems which contain sensitive data. According to PCI and ICO the answer is an organization should apply the full disk encryption to all the system. Because only a few stuffs of the organization can access the sensitive data but still there is a chance that due to some emergency an ordinary stuff can also get access to sensitive data. So, be ready before the mistake has been done.

Full disk encryption not only save your sensitive data but also assures you the protection of each and every single data of your organization. But some people do not want to apply encryption because of some drawbacks and those drawbacks can cause data loss or computer malfunction, because the following things can happen due to encryption:-

  1. Password forgotten.
  2. Problem in the hardware.
  3. Data corruption due to the encryption of data.
  4. Normally people like to make some common as well as weak password just because they can remember it. Those passwords are known as weak keys password.
  5. Sometimes we write down our passwords because we do not have the confidence that we can remember them.
  6. Data corrupted by the encryption process.
  7. The encryption algorithm can be cracked sometimes.

But we have to keep in mind before applying full disk encryption that encryption does not enhance or reduce risks, it just provides protection to your data from data loss.  So it depends on us that how we are applying the full disk encryption process to our system. Before the implementation of full disk encryption we have to be very careful about the following factors:-

  1. The encryption process is approved by the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) or not.
  2. Due to presence of scratch pad the modern day’s computers cannot protect the hard disk and full memory. And the dangerous thing is that through these scratch pads the hackers can easily access your data.

Another problem with encryption is that there is a chance of potential data loss, but in case of full disk encryption as full disk encryption works in the hardware level not on the software level, so the chances of interaction between the encryption and other applications automatically reduces and as a result of it the probability of data loss also reduces.

So, if your system has sensitive data and you do not want to lose those data, and then apply full disk encryption to your system because it does not drop the speed of your system but it makes your system fully protected.

About ALERTSEC:-

Alertsec Xpress is the No.1 encryption service provider for hundreds of banks and financial institutions worldwide. They are providing 24*7 customer service system. By offering computer protection software, encryption with lowest TCO (Total Cost of Operation), Checkpoint and Pointec they are assuring to make data secure. For more details about Alertsec log on to: http://www.alertsec.com

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Leak Fear as Hospital Loses Patient Detail

April 29th, 2011
Data Security

Flah Drive

As the number of laptop and data storage device robbery increasing day by day, the negligence of different organizations about the implementation of data encryption software and laptop encryption software come to the notice of ICO. Though ICO is trying hard to make all the organizations aware about the importance of encryption of data but the organizations are showing to less energy to encrypt the laptops and data storage devices. As a result of that any short of data or device loss is making huge effect on the organization.

ICO came to know that recently at Queen Marry Hospital a flash drive which contained the details of the patients of that hospital had been lost. Though the main copy of those data has been stored in a computer with password protection but the data in the flash drive was neither encrypted nor password protected.

The hospital informs that the flash drive contained the names and id numbers of at least 19 patients of them. From this we can easily understand the situation that is going to occur if the incident came to the notice of those patients. And not only in this hospital but this thing is happening in everywhere like; schools, different organizations even in antivirus developing organizations also. A source of the hospital informed that the data was stored in the flash drive from a password protected computer to upgrade the computer. The management of the hospital immediately lodged a report to the police and they assured that the treatment of the patients would not be affected due to this incident.

Such type of incidents shows us the importance of data encryption software, computer security software. If encryption is enabled in our system and storage devices then we do not have to worry about the manipulation of data after the data has been lost. Though a lot of encryption software is available in the market and ICO is trying their best so that every organization uses those encryption softwares to protect their system and data but due to unawareness and negligence most of the organizations show lethargy to implement it in their organizations. ICO has decided to take some serious steps so that every organization will implement those softwares in their organization.

Though the hospital informed the police and the patients and apologized to them for their mistakes, just to put off the light from their fault but everyone can easily understand the effect of this incident.

About Alertsec:-

Alertsec is one of the leading data encryption software providers. Alertsec offers computer protection that is convenient and affordable. Analysis of the total cost of ownership of the Alertsec Xpress solution and the major alternatives show that the benefits of the Cloud Service can cut the TCO by up to half.

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Department of Health and Human Services Announced an Internal Data Breach

January 28th, 2011
The Department of Health and Human Services he...
Health and Human Services Headquarter

Every week we post  news about data breach incidents, some of which also involves the identity theft and activities around financial security. Data breach news, may be not the best way to remind you of the need for security but through this we make you aware that don’t just read or watch the news. To stop such cases you need to act and take immediate action like using data protection and data encryption software like Alertsec Xpress.

Department of Health and Human Services

The latest news of data breach is of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. DHHS has announced an internal data breach that computer disks belonging to the Division of Services for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing are missing. DHHS claims that the missing disks accidentally fallen in the landfill as there a renovation process was going on in the North Carolina DHHS office.

According The DHHS press release, “a set of computer disks belonging to the Division of Services for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing (DSDHH) may have been accidentally discarded and likely taken to a landfill”.

This statement makes it clear that they were also not sure about the disk taken to a landfill. Might be, the disks were stolen while offices were being renovated. Although the breach is not clear but according to the NC Senate Bill 1048, it is a case of data breach and DHHS has to inform the victims of the breach.

Disks were Locked Under a Secret Code

The disks contained personal information of clients who had applied for services from the Equipment Distribution Service within DSDHH from January 2005 through December 2008. For the security measure disks were encrypted since 2008.  Although disks were locked under a secret code but that code was very easy to crack.

For precautionary measures DSDHH is sending the letters to each person whose information was stored on the missing disk. This letter included the information related to the incident and guidance how they can protect themselves from identity theft. DHHS also notified the Consumer Protection Section about the breach and contacted the State Bureau of Investigation.

Concerned or Affected Citizens can Contact DSDHH

DSDHH has added a link to consumer protection information on the division’s website at www.ncdhhs.gov/dsdhh and prepared staff to answer questions from concerned citizens who may have been affected.
Clients with questions or concerns should call (800) 662-7030 (English/Espanol) or TTY for the hearing impaired at (877) 452-2514 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays. In the Triangle, call (919) 855-4400 or (919) 733-4851 (TTY for the hearing impaired). Questions or concerns can also be e-mailed to care.line@dhhs.nc.gov.

How Alertsec Xpress Would Have Helped

In an incident which highlights the need of a data security and recovery software, the threat could have simply been reduced to an insurance matter by a mere investment of $13/month. The information would have been secure with no loss what so ever. That is certainly a small price to pay compared to what can happen if you lose confidential or sensitive data.  Alertsec Xpress offers a very good and easy-to-use laptop security service that includes more than the traditional software licensing model. Feel free to subscribe for your personal 30-day free trial.

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The Hard Disk Ghost Strikes Again

April 8th, 2010
Samsung HD753LJ hard disk drive (750 GB storag...
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It seems the evil spirit is back :) and again it is the confidential data at risk!

Like all premier hospitals, the Michigan based Providence Hospital is responsible to ensure the security of confidential data of their patients. However, in a recent incident they have issued letters to their patients which mentions that hard-drive used for protecting their data has been stolen from an official suite. Unacceptable to say the least!

Sequence of unanswered questions:

  1. While the incident happened in February, it was only reported to the police in the beginning of April. Generally, it is believed that the hospital authorities tried to located the hard-disk themselves before escalating the matter. Infact, even the hospital authorities weren’t themselves clear about this incident for a period of 4-5 days.
  2. It is not clear as to how the drive was stolen from a secure environment in the hospital
  3. Althought, the hospital has stated some numbers about the type of data loss, it is still not clear whether the data has been mis-used or compromised so far.

Apparently, the hard drive included patient information, including name, medical record number and/or clinical information. In addition, it also included proprietary business information and addresses and phone numbers of some employees.

A statement issued by Hospital said, “The hospital has taken aggressive steps to keep this from happening in the future, including reviewing policies and procedures for external drives and other portable electronic devices, and re-education and training of staff on necessary safeguards,” the hospital said in a statement. “Other actions included imposing appropriate disciplinary action. Providence and Providence Park Hospitals require Corporate Responsibility and Privacy training of all associates annually as a requirement of their job.”

View the news video of Providence Hospital Security Breach

About Alertsec

Businesses need to accept encryption as a key part of their data protection strategy. Do your company a favor and explore the benefits Alertsec Xpress can offer you.

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