Encrypting the files and data on your hard disc can be awkward. There are various packages you can use to do the job some of which are easy to use and effective and others which are just a pain. Personally I use the Encrypted File System built into Windows, though I still don’t like it and it makes me uneasy. Sure I’ve got my EFS key backed up and kept safe in the cloud but what I really need is a better solution and one that’s not tied to a Windows login that could become corrupt.
Today, LapLink have announced their new PC Lock software. This takes the task of encrypting your files and data to the next logical level and adds some interesting features.
According to research conducted by Ponemon Institute, Gartner and Intel, over 1,700 laptops are stolen every day and someone’s identity is stolen every 2 seconds. Files on a PC that are not encrypted are at constant danger of theft, increasing the user’s risk of identity theft, privacy invasion and significant financial loss.
It uses “a sophisticated EKE ‘Encrypted Key Encryption’ approach with military-grade 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)” to secure your data but in addition to the software on your PC which encrypts and decrypts files on the fly, there’s a cloud management console too.
With this unique console, users can modify preferences, change settings, reset passwords, lock the data on a missing or stolen PC and remotely delete sensitive data. The Web Management Console is accessible from any web-enabled device, including smartphones, allowing management from virtually anywhere, even if the user is on the go; no need to rely on live customer support as with other products.
This is a very interesting approach meaning that you still have control of your data, and can securely erase it, if you lose your laptop or if your PC is stolen. You will also be able to rest safe in the knowledge that the thief won’t have had access to the data in the interim because the files aren’t unlocked by your Windows log-in.
Files and folders on a PC remain protected even if the PC is lost or stolen. Users can trigger a remote wipe of their encrypted data from the Web Management Console, preventing access of stolen files. Even if the thief pulls the hard drive from the PC and never accesses the Internet, the data remains encrypted and inaccessible. PC Lock is also compatible with other security software, so it can provide an extra layer of protection and complement existing safeguards a user may already have in place or add in the future.
The main encryption software is run from a wizard which takes you through the process of encrypting your files and configuring the PC’s data. The encryption takes place in the background and you won’t notice any degradation in performance on a standard home or business PC, as you shouldn’t these days.
Then for those of you in business, maybe a small business where you need to protect sensitive customer and user data how about these cherries on the cake?
Behavior Monitoring
PC Lock automatically takes steps to protect your encrypted data when it senses an unauthorized user. If someone repeatedly fails to login, PC Lock detects successive failures and will automatically take steps to protect encrypted data. These steps include destroying essential elements of the decryption key rendering access to the data impossible.
Protects against “Cold Boot Attacks”
The “Cold Boot” phenomenon occurs because other encryption software leaves encryption keys in RAM even when a PC is password protected by a screen saver, sleeping or hibernating. PC Lock deletes keys and overwrites them with random data during transitions to other power states ensuring they cannot be recovered in a cold boot situation.
Protects against Hackers
The PC Lock password is separate and different than the Windows password. So, even if a hacker is able to login to your Windows user account, they will also have to know your PC Lock password to unlock your data, which if they fail at guessing a set number of times (determined by the user in the Web Management Console) then PC Lock will trigger the key deletion to protect your data.
I like this approach as I’ve always been uneasy about EFS having lost data to it about 10 years ago. The thought of having encryption that’s tied to your Windows log-in on a specific computer is a bit dangerous so I’ll certainly be giving LapLink PC Lock a try. The additional peace of mind of having the web console with remote wipe access is an extra bonus.
LapLink has been around for decades now and made it’s name with hardware crossover serial cables that allowed you to easily transfer files from one computer to another (this was in the days before modern networks). Now to celebrate the company’s 28th anniversary they’re giving away PC Lock completely free for 24 hours (Monday 16th May 2011). After that it will be available at a discounted rate of $14.95 for a period before returning to the full retail price of $29.99.
If you value your data and keep personal files on your home or work PC or on your laptop or tablet then you should grab PC Lock while its free, you can get it here at www.laplink.com/pclock. We all keep personal files on our computers and the thought of being able to log into a cloud management console on my smartphone and remotely wipe a device makes this not just a bargain, but potentially the software we must all have on our computers.
Related Articles:
Lock your Devices with Device LockKid Key Lock
Lock A Computer With A Bluetooth Device
Protect Data DVDs And CDs With Power Disk Lock
Automatically Lock your computer
Enjoyed the article?: Then sign-up for our free newsletter or RSS feed to kick off your day with the latest technology news and tips, or share the article with your friends and contacts on Facebook, Twitter or Google+ using the icons below.
Do you happen to know if this software will work with a dual booting system (linux-windows)?
For now PC Lock is Windows only. I’ll pass the suggestion back to LapLink though, it’s a good one
Hey Mik,
What a pitty… I guess I will have to stick with truecrypt for the time being. Thanks for the feedback.
Hoi Mike,
Thanks for the link and when I go to the link your mentioned in your article and then try to download the program, by adding it to main shopping basket i end up to have to pay €30.88 ? And i cant find an outer way to get it? Can you please explain more detailed to me how i can get it..
Are you getting paid to tout this software? This review sounds more like an infomercial than an objective review.
@Paul(us)
It should say FREE Download Now at the top of the screen and you add to your cart the one that has the price crossed out.
@Fred
Nope, not getting paid a bean, I just like it
Hoi Mike,
Thanks for your answer. And again i have loaded the webpage and again there is now FREE download at the top at the screen. Maybe this is so because your are downloading from a outer zone and only in your zone its allowed. I am trying to download this program fro The Netherlands (Europe) maybe that’s way i am having a restricted page?
Paulus I have checked the link and I see the free Download Now link as well. I’m not sure why you do not get it. I have added a screenshot of how it looks like to the article.
Military grade encryption. Sounds like a marketing pitch for a snake-oil security system. I think I’ll be sticking with Truecrypt. TC is open to external review, painfully detailed in how it is implemented, and has been proven secure against government-level attacks. This product is obscure, not open source, no documentation as to how it works, and no track record to speak of. I think I’ll be sticking with TC. Plus it’s free.
Thanks Martin, Now i understand. the link from Mike brought me to the product page and from your screenshot i have concluded, that i have to go to the home page from where i could download the product. Thanks Martin for intervening .
Have tried numerous times to install Windows 7 Professional and just can’t! Have my confirmation code, etc, downloads and almost installs then tells me I need to restart and rolls back changes
Except this time, it’s just stuck ‘rolling back changes’!!
The code you are provided does not activate the software. I get an invalid code message.
I talked to their support team and was greeted with a “we don’t know about this promotion and can’t help you.”
No good deed goes unpunished.
What about this one?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BitLocker_Drive_Encryption