Data (Un)Secure

Posted on February 23, 2008

A new report out of Princeton shows that data encryption on a hard drive in most cases can be bypassed and the contents accessed.

As usual, we have been led to believe something is without fail when, in reality, most everything has an Achilles heel, and sometimes the whole body is vulnerable. Turns out that Windows doesn’t have a corner on the insecure market. This report shows that even Apple and Linux can be compromised in spite of data encryption.

You need to watch this video as it explains that the encryption keys are stored in RAM so all you have to do is freeze the chips (with a simple air duster can turned upside down so you get the cold stuff) and then through an external program recover on reboot the keys which have been placed in suspension by the cold and not allowed to dissipate as they would normally.

The only comforting thing about this at all is that it can’t be done remotely.

Back to the drawing board…