New
#1
Just how secure do you need to be?
I've read a number of articles on-line about security, about the latest AES-256 encryption, and so on. Everything seems to be making the assumption that you're guarding against a highly skilled hacker that wants to crack your password and access your files.
But really... just how secure do we need to be?
I'm fully convinced that a secure browser with anti-malware software installed is a must. You just never know when you may inadvertently end up on a nasty website, or receive an attack via the mistake of a colleague or friend that sends you a contaminated e-mail.
But what about your local files? If they're not something you edit or read frequently, I can see zipping them up with an AES-256 encryption featured utility (like WinRAR or 7z). Chances are, the breach of your laptop could be theft or loss... but then, the person who gains your laptop is probably much more interested in resale of your hardware than your personal files.
Then there's the matter of password files. For those of us who have multiple e-mail accounts and use different ID's on several forums, it can become difficult to remember the passwords used for each if they aren't accessed frequently. Storing the passwords in a file makes sense, but a basic text file would be asking for trouble. So, how do you manage this? A password protected Excel spreadsheet is probably a good idea if you're just wanting to be sure that anyone who you mind allow use of your computer can't get access. But a more sophisticated password management program might be in order if you really want to be secure.
What is your strategy for file system security?