[Reactor]

Greetings folks!

I just recently obtained a new laptop, and I'm primarily concerned 'bout its maximum security. Y'see, my earlier laptop was stolen at a train station by a filthy gypsy (no, seriously) last Summer, so I had no backup system for the past few months. I shall keep an extremely sharp look-out for this one, and will not let it outta my hands, not even for a second.

But as y'can expect, destiny might have other thoughts 'bout this. Meaning, if destiny wants me to lose this new laptop, I WILL lose it. Well anywayz, I do what I can to ensure that NO ONE will EVER access my files on the laptop, even if someone has the amazing ability of being invisible, teleport, or walk through walls and get my machine. I want to keep the contents of my secondary system WELL away from prying eyes.

That's why I'm asking YOU, experts about a program, or application, which would establish a checkpoint BEFORE it would log me into Windows. A security software, which would ask for a password before login, and will not let anyone inside, who does not know the magic word. I know, I know, there is a built-in password protection in Windows alrighty, but it can be happily cracked by a five year old. For an experienced specialist, getting through Windows generated password defense is easier than taking a piss. So I need an external program, which could cause some headache for these guys...a password defense which could not be cracked so easily.

I've tried my luck with a program called "Password Protected Lock", but it didn't work for some odd reason, therefore I need to find another. It doesn't matter if it's free or trial version, or I need to purchase it...just recommend meg a GOOD password protection for my laptop, before it's too late...

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Go into the BIOS and find the HDD Password option.

It is not a very well known fact, but all hard disks have a very strong hardware password capability build in. This password is usually stored both in a chip on the HD controller (the printed circuit board on the hard disk) and on the hard disk itself in a special hidden sector.

Setting this password will make the hard disk completely unusable to anyone that doesn’t know it. And not only on your computer, but on any computer.

A lot of newer laptops will set the HD password together with the BIOS password, completely locking all the hardware.

The hard disk manufacturers are unable to unlock a password protected hard disk, as there aren’t any “secret” master passwords build into the firmware. Even swapping the controller of the password-protected hard disk with exactly the same controller from an unprotected HD will not remove the protection on most disks, as the password (together with most of the firmware) is also stored on the hard disk itself.

The only way of retrieving any files from a password protected hard disk without knowing the password is to send it to a data recovery company for unlocking, but not all data recovery companies could or would unlock a password protected HD.

And of course this then goes without saying: Do not forget your own password. If you do, the game is well and truly over.
Also keep regular backups with this approach because when the drive needs to be replaced, it will probably prove impossible to get the data back off the locked drive after.

The ultimate act of security: Don't lose the laptop in the first place

[Neil Jones]

Go into the BIOS and find the HDD Password option.

It is not a very well known fact, but all hard disks have a very strong hardware password capability build in. This password is usually stored both in a chip on the HD controller (the printed circuit board on the hard disk) and on the hard disk itself in a special hidden sector.

Setting this password will make the hard disk completely unusable to anyone that doesn’t know it. And not only on your computer, but on any computer.

A lot of newer laptops will set the HD password together with the BIOS password, completely locking all the hardware.

The hard disk manufacturers are unable to unlock a password protected hard disk, as there aren’t any “secret” master passwords build into the firmware. Even swapping the controller of the password-protected hard disk with exactly the same controller from an unprotected HD will not remove the protection on most disks, as the password (together with most of the firmware) is also stored on the hard disk itself.

The only way of retrieving any files from a password protected hard disk without knowing the password is to send it to a data recovery company for unlocking, but not all data recovery companies could or would unlock a password protected HD.

And of course this then goes without saying: Do not forget your own password. If you do, the game is well and truly over.
Also keep regular backups with this approach because when the drive needs to be replaced, it will probably prove impossible to get the data back off the locked drive after.

The ultimate act of security: Don't lose the laptop in the first place

[Reactor]

Amazing! I would never think about setting the defense line right in the BIOS Great advice! Even if my laptop would be stolen by anyone, it'll be completely unusable, as the password is strongly hardware-based, which means, it cannot be cracked up.

And of course, I'll be most careful when moving through a zone full of gypsies