The OneMinute Geek

Is there a Bill of Rights for information? Do you have the right to keep information on your computer private? Although the answer to this is still being reviewed by the courts, the contents of your personal computer are generally considered private. Of course, what's on your computer at work, even personal e-mails, are the possession of your employer so it's smart not to keep personal data on your employer's PC.

Problem:

However, even your office computer may have company files you don't want others to see--memos, performance reviews of staff members, business plans, financial data and more. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to keep prying eyes away, but it's your individual responsibility to take the necessary precautions.

Solution:

There are two basic things you must protect--your hardware and your software.

Protecting your hardware is much the same as protecting any other piece of valuable equipment. Use an etching pen to scratch identification on your PC case. Use your driver's license or some personal identification other than your social security number.

Also write down your computer's model number, make and serial number and keep this in a safe location away from your PC. If your PC is stolen, you can immediately enter identifying information in the Stolen Computer Registry (www.Stolencomuters.org).

Protecting your software is a much more complex matter. First, be careful with your passwords. Do not share them and use long, complex groups of characters. Don't use any permutation of your name, your dog's name, or anything else someone could easily guess.

You can protect individual files with different passwords. See (www.necrocosm.com/ppsplus/index) for help creating unassailable passwords. Use dedicated password protection programs. Don't rely on password protection screen savers. These are easily thwarted by simply rebooting your machine.

You can also encrypt data in your files but avoid proprietary encryption programs. Instead use encryption algorithms such as Pretty Good Privacy (www.pgp.com). It's free and has withstood the test of time and a lot of public use.

Treat your supersensitive files carefully with extra care. It's best to hide them. Magic Folders (www.pc-magic.com) will help you hide your data in seemingly harmless picture or audio files. That's called steganography. Try Hide and Seek available at (http://steganography.tripod.com/stego).

If you share your PC with someone else, you need Magic Folders. Then no one else can read your files. No one can modify or delete a file that they can't find.

Hiding your tax and financial records are obviously important.

You can even encrypt them with Magic Folders. You enter your password just once to get to your encrypted Magic Folders.

And, after you've gone to all the trouble to secure your files inside your computer, be sure your computer itself is secure. Lock the barn before your proverbial horse is stolen. Buy a security cable for your computer and attach your PC to something unmovable. Then, when you leave your PC well anchored, secure the premises. Lock the doors and windows!

James Kerr is President/CEO of SuperGeeks, a Honolulu-based computer consulting firm (www.supergeeks.net). Please feel free to send your questions, comments and suggestions to Mr. Kerr. He can be reached at kerr@supergeeks.net and 942-0773.