Hard Drive Encryption

What Does Hard Drive Encryption Mean?

Hard drive encryption is a technology that employes sophisticated mathematical functions to convert data stored on a hard drive into a form that is not recognizable to unauthorized persons. Without an appropriate key or password, the data cannot be read. Hard drive encryption provides protection against hackers and other online threats.

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Techopedia Explains Hard Drive Encryption

Specialized software is used to encrypt the data written to the hard drive. When a file is read, it must be decrypted by the software while leaving all the other data on the drive encrypted. The encryption/decryption process does not affect other applications or programs. The encryption/decryption process is invisible to the user, although it may cause the computer’s processing times to be slower.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…