Should my external hard drive be encrypted?

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Should my external hard drive be encrypted

What is disk encryption?

Disk encryption encrypts data at the hard drive or volume level so that all data written to and read from the disk is encrypted (https://blog.rsisecurity.com/why-business-should-use-disk-encryption-software/). This differs from file-level encryption, where only specific files are encrypted. With full disk encryption, everything on the drive is encrypted – the operating system, applications, and all user files and folders.

Encryption works by scrambling data using a complex mathematical algorithm and an encryption key. The encrypted data looks like random gibberish to anyone without the decryption key. When properly implemented, modern encryption algorithms make it virtually impossible for unauthorized parties to decrypt the data. The encryption key unlocks the drive and allows authorized users to access the original plaintext data.

On computers, disk encryption is typically implemented at the partition or volume level. This allows different partitions or volumes on the same physical disk to be encrypted or unencrypted. Popular disk encryption solutions on Windows include BitLocker and VeraCrypt. On Linux, LUKS encryption is commonly used. MacOS also has built-in full disk encryption capabilities.

Benefits of encrypting your external hard drive

One of the biggest advantages of encrypting an external hard drive is protection against data theft if your device is ever lost or stolen. Full disk encryption transforms the data on your drive into unreadable cipher text. Without the encryption key, unauthorized parties cannot access the contents, even if they gain physical possession of the hard drive.

This provides tremendous peace of mind for external drive users. You never know when a portable hard drive might be misplaced or taken, but encryption ensures your sensitive files and personal information remain secure. Leaving an external drive unencrypted poses massive risks, as someone could easily plug the device in and access everything inside with no restrictions. Encryption mitigates that possibility.

According to the source https://www.n-able.com/blog/disk-encryption-software-key-benefits, some key benefits of hard disk encryption include:

  • Securing data from hackers if the device is lost or stolen
  • Eliminating the risk of human error exposing data
  • Safeguarding data in the event a device is retired or repurposed

With encryption enabled, you can rest easy knowing your external hard drive’s contents are protected should it wind up in the wrong hands.

Risks of not encrypting your external hard drive

One of the biggest risks of using an external hard drive without encryption is the potential for data loss or theft if the device is lost or stolen. According to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, portable storage devices like external hard drives are frequent targets for attackers due to the sensitive data they often contain (https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/RisksOfPortableDevices.pdf). If an unencrypted external hard drive falls into the wrong hands, the data can be easily accessed, copied, and misused.

In addition to data theft, failing to encrypt sensitive data on external hard drives can also lead to legal compliance issues. Many regulations, such as HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and GDPR require proper encryption of personal data stored digitally. If your external hard drive contains protected health records, credit card information, or other regulated data, you may be liable for legal penalties if this data is exposed due to lack of encryption.

The risks posed by unencrypted external hard drives extend beyond just the data stored on the device itself. If malware infects an unencrypted external hard drive, it can spread to other connected devices and systems when plugged in. This presents a security risk for your entire digital ecosystem.

Overall, encrypting external hard drives is a critical best practice for securing sensitive data against loss and theft. The risks of keeping devices unencrypted greatly outweigh the small inconvenience of implementing drive encryption.

How to encrypt your external hard drive

There are several options for encrypting an external hard drive on Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. Some of the most common encryption software tools include:

  • BitLocker (built into Windows) – BitLocker is Microsoft’s native full disk encryption software included with some versions of Windows. It can be used to encrypt external drives by right-clicking the drive, selecting Turn on BitLocker, and setting a password.
  • FileVault (built into MacOS) – MacOS includes the FileVault full disk encryption system. To enable it for an external drive, open Finder, right-click the drive, and select Encrypt [Drive Name].
  • Veracrypt (cross-platform) – VeraCrypt is a popular free and open source encryption tool that works across Windows, Mac, and Linux. It allows creation of encrypted containers or full encrypted volumes.
  • AxCrypt (Windows) – AxCrypt is a free Windows software for selectively encrypting files or fully encrypting external drives.

The general steps to encrypt an external hard drive are:

  1. Connect the external drive to your computer via USB.
  2. Open your encryption software of choice, such as BitLocker or VeraCrypt.
  3. Select the external drive you want to encrypt.
  4. Choose the encryption options, such as AES or Serpent encryption algorithms.
  5. Create a strong password to protect the drive.
  6. Start the encryption process.
  7. Wait for the encryption process to complete. This may take some time depending on the drive size and speed.

Once encrypted, you’ll need your password to unlock and access files on the external drive. Take care not to lose your password, as data on the encrypted drive will be inaccessible without it.

Sources:

https://proprivacy.com/guides/encrypt-external-hard-drive

https://www.uvm.edu/it/kb/article/encrypt-external-drive/

Performance impact of encryption

Encrypting an external hard drive does result in minor performance slowdowns during reads and writes. However, with modern hardware and encryption methods like AES, the impact is fairly small.

The main time a noticeable slowdown may occur is during the initial encryption process when first setting up disk encryption. This requires the drive to encrypt all existing data, which can take hours or days depending on the drive size and encryption method used.

Once encryption is enabled, performance during normal use has a minor impact according to most reports. This is because modern CPUs have dedicated acceleration for encryption algorithms like AES. The encryption and decryption happens almost instantly as data is read from or written to the drive.1

For average desktop use, encrypted hard drives generally have little noticeable effect on system performance. But encryption can have a larger impact on I/O intensive tasks like gaming, video editing, 3D rendering or other activities involving large file transfers.

Overall, encryption provides valuable security protections for minimal impact on performance. The trade-off is well worth it for external drives containing sensitive data.

Who should encrypt their external hard drive

Those with sensitive personal or business data on their external hard drive should strongly consider encrypting it. This includes people like lawyers, doctors, accountants, and executives who routinely handle confidential client information. Encryption helps protect that sensitive data if the drive is ever lost or stolen.

People working in regulated industries like healthcare ([1]), finance, and government agencies may be legally required to encrypt external drives. This applies to employees who telecommute or travel frequently with sensitive company information.

Individuals who store financial information, health records, trade secrets, or other confidential data on their external drive should enable encryption. It provides an important layer of security for irreplaceable and private information.

Limitations of external hard drive encryption

While encrypting an external hard drive has its benefits, there are some limitations to be aware of:

Encryption is tied to the specific device. If the external hard drive is lost, stolen, or damaged, the data cannot be accessed without the drive itself. The encryption keys and algorithm exist on that physical drive. So even if you have backups of the data, they will be encrypted and inaccessible without the original drive.

Loss of the password locks the drive. If you forget the password used to encrypt the drive, there is no way to recover the data. Strong encryption like AES-256 bit cannot be cracked or broken by brute force. The data is irrecoverable without the correct password.

Some cited sources:
https://www.datanumen.com/blogs/6-advantages-disadvantages-full-disk-encryption-fde/
https://security.berkeley.edu/data-encryption-removable-media-guideline

Alternatives to Full Disk Encryption

While full disk encryption protects all data on a drive, file and folder encryption can secure specific data without encrypting the entire disk. Some popular alternatives for protecting sensitive files include:

FileVault for Mac encrypts user data locally using XTS-AES 128 encryption. It is built into MacOS and easy to enable for protecting files (Apple Support).

VeraCrypt is a free, open source disk encryption tool for Windows, MacOS, and Linux. It allows creating encrypted containers to store files securely. VeraCrypt uses AES, Serpent and Twofish encryption (VeraCrypt).

EncFS provides encrypted containers for Linux, using AES or Blowfish encryption algorithms. It is designed to look like an ordinary folder but encrypts contents transparently (Tecmint).

For cloud storage, services like Google Drive, DropBox, and Microsoft OneDrive allow encrypting files before uploading them. Cloud encryption relies on user-controlled keys for security (PCMag).

Folder encryption is more lightweight than full disk encryption but protects fewer files. Cloud encryption offloads security but relies on provider policies. Alternatives may suit basic encryption needs without drives’ performance overhead.

Examples of encrypted external hard drives

There are two main types of encrypted external hard drives – hardware encrypted and software encrypted.

Hardware encrypted drives have the encryption built into the hardware. Some examples include:

Software encrypted drives use third-party software to encrypt the contents of a traditional external hard drive. Some options include:

Hardware encrypted drives offer better security, while software options provide more flexibility.

Conclusion

In summary, encrypting your external hard drive has several advantages. The main benefits are protecting your sensitive data in case your drive is lost or stolen and preventing unauthorized access even if the drive falls into the wrong hands. Full disk encryption ensures all data is scrambled and unusable without the right encryption key.

However, there are also some downsides to consider. Encryption introduces a small performance hit, so your drive may be slightly slower at reading and writing data. It also prevents accessing the data from that drive on other machines unless you have the password. Lastly, if you forget the password, the data will be permanently inaccessible.

For most users, the security and privacy benefits of encrypting your external drive outweigh the minor performance impact. Encryption is recommended if you store any financial information, personal documents, private photos or videos, or work files on the external drive. While no system is foolproof, encryption significantly raises the difficulty of penetrating your data. Just be sure not to lose your password.

In conclusion, encrypting external hard drives is recommended for individual users and business professionals alike in order to protect sensitive data. The encryption process is simple on Windows and Mac computers and adds crucial protection against unauthorized access.