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List:       security-basics
Subject:    Re: Need a Full Drive Encryption program
From:       Samuel Hillaire <samhillaire () yahoo ! com>
Date:       2002-05-31 19:32:55
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An alternative suggestion to the hard drive encryption, would be to look at IBM laptops.  On
previous models like the 7xx series of laptops (I haven't looked recently), there was an option
for a hard drive password.  Using a little known portion of the ATA (hard drive) specification,
the hard drive required a password on initial powerup (computer booting).  This password protected
the drive from theft, since every time power was applied to the hard drive, the BIOS queried for
the hard drive password.  The only way to defeat this mechanism is to send the laptop back to IBM.

I knew several executives who swore by this, and would only carry IBM laptops.

Sam Hillaire
MCSE, MCDBA
samhillaire@yahoo.com

--- "Trotter, Brian" <brian.trotter@scottishre.com> wrote:
> The President of my company has tasked me with finding some way to keep the
> data on his and the other executives laptop safe if it is ever stolen.
> I looked over hardware tokens and all kinds of security gizmos, but these
> guys travel so much that if they leave their tokens at the office when they
> go on the road, they cannot access their data. I figured that using a Full
> Disk Encryption program was the easiest solution. Make them choose a super
> hard password, and we will keep track of the passwords in the IT department.
> 
> I have looked at a couple different products such as "Encryption Plus Hard
> Disk" from PCGuardian, and another I cant remember the name for. However,
> they require you to purchase minimum quantities before they will even talk
> to you about it. PCGuardian requires a minimum of 50 units to be purchased.
> The other required 100.
> 
> Can someone recommend a product that will provide pre-boot authentication to
> the laptop? It will have to render the laptop useless unless the password is
> provided. I don't like the encrypted volume software that will encrypt
> select folders and such. I would like something that without the right
> password, the laptop wont even boot.
> 
> Thanks for any help you can give.
> 
> Brian T.


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