BIOS and Hard Drive Passwords - Are they effective security approaches?

From: Doug Fox (dfox168_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 05/23/03

  • Next message: Agent Mimic: "Re: BIOS and Hard Drive Passwords - Are they effective security approaches?" 
    Date: Fri, 23 May 2003 02:06:54 GMT

    Are the benefits out-weighed the costs of deploying BIOS and/or Hard Drive
    passwords on laptops?

    People supports this idea claim that:
    It has one more layer of defense.

    People who do not support this idea claim that:
    If users forgot the BIOS passwords, the system could not boot up.
    It may increase the support costs.
    The BIOS passwords can be reset by a hardware technician in no time. If the
    "thief" is interested in data, he can remove the hard drive to another
    laptop.
    ??

    If the users forgot their harddrive passwords. The system could not boot
    up.
    It could increase the support costs.
    It could "fire" the motherboard. (?)
    ??

    A better approach is to use PGP to encrypt the disk, or folders containing
    sensitive information.

    Any comments/input are appreciated.

  • Next message: Agent Mimic: "Re: BIOS and Hard Drive Passwords - Are they effective security approaches?"

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