Do I need encryption?

Ask around, and you'll hear varied opinions on whether to use encryption. Certainly, it can add complexity to using your computer. It may be a minor inconvenience such as having to log in with a password every time you turn on your computer, or a major hassle, such as having to fool with a difficult interface every time you want to do anything on your computer. Encrypting...

Do I need encryption?

Ask around, and you'll hear varied opinions on whether to use encryption. Certainly, it can add complexity to using your computer. It may be a minor inconvenience such as having to log in with a password every time you turn on your computer, or a major hassle, such as having to fool with a difficult interface every time you want to do anything on your computer. Encrypting large files can take a lot of time and computing power. Even worse, losing passwords or corrupting encryption program installations can lead to data loss. So why bother?

The answer is simple: if the data on your computer is sensitive enough, you should use encryption. For example:

* Do you have data that could cause damage to or embarrass your organization or your personal reputation if it fell into the wrong hands? (For example, a memo outlining your organization's legal strategy for suing a corporation that has illegally dumped hazardous waste in your community's landfill.)
* Are there documents on your computer that are strictly confidential? (For example, bank and credit card account numbers, or personnel files.)
* Do you send and receive email messages containing confidential information about your organization's work?

If the answer to any of these questions is "yes," you should take steps to ensure the privacy of this data.

Keep in mind that you don't need to spot suspicious men in a satellite dish-equipped van parked outside your building to warn you that you are potentially at risk of data theft. Malicious hackers may find vulnerabilities in your Internet connection. It's a good idea always to assume that it's possible for someone to violate your computer's security and privacy, and act accordingly to prevent it. This is especially true if you are using Microsoft software, which is particularly vulnerable because it is so widely used. (Malicious hackers know they can cause the most damage by targeting widely used software programs.)

Even if you take the extra steps required to encrypt your data, there are still likely to be vulnerabilities that could allow a skilled or well-funded data thief to get access to your data. Read the section on vulnerabilities for details.

It's up to you to weigh the risk of data theft against the trouble it would take to guard against it by using encryption. Because the usability, learning curve, and difficulty of using these programs factors greatly into the equation of whether you want (or need) to use them, our software reviews focus on how easy it is to get started with the programs and to use them on a day-to-day basis. Since cost is also a major concern for non-profits, we have included reviews of several low-cost or free software options.

For further reading follow the source below:
http://www.netaction.org/encry...

Computer encryption, the process of encoding information in such a way that only the person (or computer) with the key can decode it.

Computer encryption is based on the science of cryptography, which has been used throughout history. Before the digital age, the biggest users of cryptography were governments, particularly for military purposes. The existence of coded messages has been verified as far back as the Roman Empire. But...

Computer encryption, the process of encoding information in such a way that only the person (or computer) with the key can decode it.

Computer encryption is based on the science of cryptography, which has been used throughout history. Before the digital age, the biggest users of cryptography were governments, particularly for military purposes. The existence of coded messages has been verified as far back as the Roman Empire. But most forms of cryptography in use these days rely on computers, simply because a human-based code is too easy for a computer to crack.
Most computer encryption systems belong in one of two categories:
• Symmetric-key encryption
• Public-key encryption

In symmetric-key encryption, each computer has a secret key (code) that it can use to encrypt a packet of information before it is sent over the network to another computer. Symmetric-key requires that you know which computers will be talking to each other so you can install the key on each one. Symmetric-key encryption is essentially the same as a secret code that each of the two computers must know in order to decode the information. The code provides the key to decoding the message. Think of it like this: You create a coded message to send to a friend in which each letter is substituted with the letter that is two down from it in the alphabet. So "A" becomes "C," and "B" becomes "D". You have already told a trusted friend that the code is "Shift by 2". Your friend gets the message and decodes it. Anyone else who sees the message will see only nonsense.

Public-key encryption uses a combination of a private key and a public key. The private key is known only to your computer, while the public key is given by your computer to any computer that wants to communicate securely with it. To decode an encrypted message, a computer must use the public key, provided by the originating computer, and its own private key. A very popular public-key encryption utility is called Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), which allows you to encrypt almost anything. You can find out more about PGP at the PGP site.

The sending computer encrypts the document with a symmetric key, then encrypts the symmetric key with the public key of the receiving computer. The receiving computer uses its private key to decode the symmetric key. It then uses the symmetric key to decode the document.

Look for the "s" after "http" in the address whenever you are about to enter sensitive information, such as a credit-card number, into a form on a Web site. Also The padlock symbol in your web browser lets you know that you are using encryption. So, you don’t need to do anything!