Security News > 2024 > May > How secure is the “Password Protection” on your files and drives?

How secure is the “Password Protection” on your files and drives?
2024-05-10 05:30

When experts refer to password protection as a security measure, they typically describe situations where a password is the sole method of accessing data, which usually has built-in protection against hacking, either through software or hardware encryption.

Most password protection methods use some form of encryption, but is there a clear choice between software and hardware encryption when it comes to protecting your personal or business files from theft, loss, or hacking?

These apps generally use software encryption on the files to protect the data.

The level of encryption is not always specified to the user, who can be left unaware of what security technology is being used beyond the password protection.

If hackers can utilize common attack methods, like social engineering, to extract a user's password or encryption keys from a computer's memory or obtain drive recovery keys, the encryption becomes ineffective.

With AES 256-bit encryption, resilience to brute force attacks, and dedicated microprocessors, it provides the enhanced level of security professionals and organizations need to deal with their sensitive data, making investing in secure methods like hardware encryption - not just a smart choice but a necessary one.


News URL

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2024/05/10/password-protect-pdf-excel-files/