Hi, I'm concerned about people trying to access my data without my permission by "Hacking" into my computer. How does encryption work and how can i use it to protect me? I find the topic "Encryption" to be very confusing with terms such as "Hash Algorithm" and "Encryption Algorithm"... what do these mean? Also, i was looking at a program called truecrypt which encrypts and decrypts your data on the fly as you use it... how does this protect your data from people if they eg. steal your pc...? it automatically decrypts data on the fly too... I'm rather confused about this all... Thanks alot! Regards, Sybex91

One way to keep your computer form being hacked is to disable windows messenger. Here is a link on how to do that. http://itc.virginia.edu/desktop/doc... Another way is to password your computer and run your internet connection through a hardwall firewall i.e. a router. I use a little program called CRYPTEXT. It can be found by doing a google search. It allows you to encrypt any folder or files using a password. After installation it adds a encrypt/decrypt option to your right clicking mouse options. Hope this helps Keep Smiling It makes them think you're up to something...

Ok thanks alot i'll look into that! =) anything else anyone?

The use of software encryption is never intended to be a substitute for not doing enough to safeguard the notebook. The lack of exercising care accounts for why so many laptops are lost, misplaced, and stolen. IMO the best defense against such occurrence is to get a laptop that have locking mechanisms built into BIOS and the HD itself. Lastly, laptops should never ever contain sensitive information that you don't want the whole world to see. i_Xp/VistaUser

By the way do you know that you will have a heck of time trying to unlock the encrypted folders once your hard drive crash and you must slave it to extract files? Regarding safeguarding your laptop the smart way you may find the following article useful. http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/3-... i_Xp/VistaUser