five steps to protect your data in example of figurer theft

Here's how to protect your data and yourself, critical for human rights defenders, in example of physical computer theft.

Past HURIDOCS Team on

Clear evidence of a break-in.

Last weekend, our headquarters in Geneva and the office of an ally organization were burglarized; 2 of our desktop computers were stolen. The attending policewoman told us despite Switzerland's reputation every bit a criminal offence-free land, at that place are up to 30 break-ins a day in Geneva. We thought being in an NGO building with restricted access and having standard doors was enough, but we will at present also reinforce the doors and get metal bars.

Computers were the just stolen items at both of our offices, just information technology's non possible to say whether the theft was specifically for information stored on the hard drives or just for the computers themselves. Either way, nosotros can confidently say nosotros take not experienced a data breach, because both of our Mac Minis were encrypted and locked with stiff passwords. We also didn't lose any data, because information technology'southward safely stored in Casebox.

Here's how to protect your data and yourself, disquisitional for human rights defenders, in case of concrete computer theft:

  1. Lock your computer with a strong and unique countersign. All passwords should be potent and unique, but peradventure even almost importantly for your estimator itself. Simple passwords are more than easily hacked by 'brute force' (guessing until success), seen past someone glancing equally you type, or determined from photographic camera footage (that's why Snowden typed his passwords nether a coating in Citzenfour). Here are some adept tips for improve passwords.
  2. Safeguard all passwords. Practice not keep your passwords written on paper near your computer. A multitude of secure passwords will exist impossible to go along in mind, so we recommend using a password manager like KeePassX instead; KeePassX besides rates the strength of your passwords.
  3. Consistently lock your screen when y'all step away. Theft can happen very quickly and obviously, unexpectedly.
  4. Encrypt your hard bulldoze. If it's encrypted, no one else can read information technology. Check your settings in Filevault on Mac and Bitlocker or Veracrypt on Windows.
  5. Regularly support your encrypted hard drive to some other location. If your estimator is stolen, yous'll however have all of your information. If you lot utilise a password manager like KeePassX, your fill-in will include a locked file containing all of your passwords.

To further protect yourself confronting privacy breaches and malicious threats, we too recommend to:

  • Scan your hard drive for viruses at least once a calendar week with updated antivirus software similar Sophos or Avast.
  • Update your calculator'due south operating system and all disquisitional software as soon equally updates become available. These updates are frequently to better protect you from breaches.
  • Prepare up two-factor authentication and two-step verification on all critical accounts like email, social networks, Apple ID, and shared workspaces.
  • Alter your passwords often.

If you've taken the above steps and your computer is stolen, you won't need to worry about your data being stolen along with it. We strongly recommend all human rights defenders accept these precautions.

Posted in:
  • Information Management and Preservation
  • Reflection and Advice