I have to suddenly be out of town for over a month. How do I quickly secure all PCs?
Dec 21, 2021, 8:36 am
#32
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If you're worried about your data just make sure you have your OS's full drive encryption turned on. Windows calls it Bitlocker (though I think it may not be available in Win10 Home). MacOS calls it FileVault. In Linux a popular option is LUKS.
Dec 21, 2021, 4:04 pm
#33
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This sounds like a, um, unique situation, am I right? 
Something a little more than a hacker finding an E-trade password?
The only reason this is a thread at all is because the OP believe there are people who might hit his house specifically for the data. I don't know what this is, probably not a crypto mine because you'd have better infosec already....but something clearly more than a typical consumer might have on prem.
If the intruder is indeed a criminal who has to move fast, the kitty litter thing might work. On the other hand, if it's the police with a search warrant and determination to find that hardware, they're gonna find it.
If somebody broke into my house and snagged a couple PCs (with encrypted hard drives), I'd assume they just want to wipe everything and sell it. But this is such a low-probability event that it's not something I lose sleep over.
Something a little more than a hacker finding an E-trade password?The only reason this is a thread at all is because the OP believe there are people who might hit his house specifically for the data. I don't know what this is, probably not a crypto mine because you'd have better infosec already....but something clearly more than a typical consumer might have on prem.
If the intruder is indeed a criminal who has to move fast, the kitty litter thing might work. On the other hand, if it's the police with a search warrant and determination to find that hardware, they're gonna find it.
If somebody broke into my house and snagged a couple PCs (with encrypted hard drives), I'd assume they just want to wipe everything and sell it. But this is such a low-probability event that it's not something I lose sleep over.
Dec 22, 2021, 11:03 am
#34
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As noted above, I'm pretty sure petty thieves would only look for laptops and tablets. However, there might be some that might take desktop computers in hopes that it's an expensive gaming computer.
Dec 23, 2021, 9:24 am
#35
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Data that is stolen -- or blocked -- is generally harder to replace than hardware. Protecting the data by securing local storage and perhaps otherwise is where I would put my efforts.
Indeed casual thieves go for the more portable stuff that is sort of durable. They aren't likely to try to raid the expensive Joseon porcelain pieces as much as they are likely to break them while looking for cash or who knows what else around them.
Not sure that most fenced hardware would get around to being subject to even a basic data extraction attempt nowadays, but some fenced good sellers do make such an effort before wiping and reselling.
When it comes to expensive gaming computers, even many pre-teens and young teenagers know how to make a quick grab for valuable components in an "expensive gaming computer" desktop without having to take the case. Young adults -- and even some pre-adults -- doing home break-ins or otherwise doing thefts also know what to grab to try to make a quick buck or save a buck by misappropriating components for their own personal use.
Some security cameras in plain sight and a very high-decibel alarm triggered by motion will equate to thieves acting in such a way as to be less effective in searching for and grabbing valuables from the premises unless it's a raid in the boonies.
I doubt they would even wipe it. They would just dump it to a fence, who would probably make an effort to extract data.
As noted above, I'm pretty sure petty thieves would only look for laptops and tablets. However, there might be some that might take desktop computers in hopes that it's an expensive gaming computer.
As noted above, I'm pretty sure petty thieves would only look for laptops and tablets. However, there might be some that might take desktop computers in hopes that it's an expensive gaming computer.
Not sure that most fenced hardware would get around to being subject to even a basic data extraction attempt nowadays, but some fenced good sellers do make such an effort before wiping and reselling.
When it comes to expensive gaming computers, even many pre-teens and young teenagers know how to make a quick grab for valuable components in an "expensive gaming computer" desktop without having to take the case. Young adults -- and even some pre-adults -- doing home break-ins or otherwise doing thefts also know what to grab to try to make a quick buck or save a buck by misappropriating components for their own personal use.
Some security cameras in plain sight and a very high-decibel alarm triggered by motion will equate to thieves acting in such a way as to be less effective in searching for and grabbing valuables from the premises unless it's a raid in the boonies.
Jan 7, 2022, 4:48 pm
#36
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