This still won’t protect your data if your setup is ever stolen.
A Windows password helps keep honest people honest, protecting your gear from casual unauthorized access.
However, all bets are off once they have physical access to your box.
They can then boot from this equipment and access your files from the live environment.
This is only possible if the computer’s BIOS is set to boot from removable devices.
However, it’s generally set this way by default.
This can be prevented by setting a BIOS password, but few users do this.
They can then access your personal data.
When a Windows Password Helps
A Windows password isn’t completely useless.
Like the locks on the doors of our houses, they help keep honest people honest.
Want to Really Protect Your Data?
If you really want to protect your data, you shouldn’t only rely on a Windows password.
You should use encryption.
When you use encryption, your files are stored on your hard drive in a seemingly scrambled form.
When you boot your setup, you’ll have to enter its encryption passphrase.
This makes the files accessible.
It will appear as scrambled, random nonsense unless they know your encryption passphrase.
Now, encryption does result in some amount of performance penalty.
Want to use encryption?
If you have a Professional edition of Windows, you canuse BitLocker to encrypt your hard drive.
However, you don’t need a Professional edition of Windows to use encryption.
Justinstall the free and open-source TrueCrypt.
When you use this software, you’ll have to drop your encryption password each time your machine boots.
The encrypted container would still protect the important files you store in it.
Of course, a Windows password is still useful.
The computer is already running, so they have access.
Image Credit:Florian on Flickr
