5 ms·

How does fde make a laptop useless to be stolen?

smoldesu 4y ago
Because the actually valuable content (the data) is protected, while the disposable part (the hardware) is taken. If you have a responsible backup habit, disaster recovery is as simple as restoring another device. FDE gives you permission to shrug-off lost devices and data, something an unencrypted laptop can't quite offer.
- kube-system 4y ago
  Thieves don't steal devices to sell the data. They steal devices to sell the device.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
  - lwkl 4y ago
    It's not about the thieves intent. It's about the person that ends up with a stolen or recycled device that wasn't properly wiped and now has a bunch of sensitive data on the hard drive (you can find tons of stories like that). Also industrial espionage is a thing and but I agree with you that's probably a minority of thefts.
    - kube-system 4y ago
      Yes, I know what FDE is good for. But it doesn't prevent or deter anyone from stealing the device, as Activation Lock does. FDE has no utility in reducing the value of a stolen device, because they can be simply reset to factory settings.
      - smoldesu 4y ago
        I could also deter thieves from stealing Macbooks by engineering it to detonate the battery when an unauthorized user takes it. That doesn't make it right, or justify the collateral damage caused by the feature.
        kube-system 4y ago
        Booby traps are illegal because they harm indiscriminately.
        threeseed 4y ago
        Sorry, at what point did anyone suggest that turning the MacBook into a bomb is right or justified.
      - lwkl 4y ago
        It does in combination with with Activation Lock or similar technology that is available x86 devices.
        kube-system 4y ago
        The claim above being disputed is that FDE alone makes it useless to steal a laptop.
- tsimionescu 4y ago
  You've got it the other way around: for a thief stealing a laptop whilee you're careless in a coffee shop, the actually valuable content is the hardware, while the data is the disposable part. Sometimes the data can be valuable as well (perhaps you can be blackmailed, or perhaps they can steal additional things from your bank accounts etc), but that is far from guaranteed. The hardware has a clear value though.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
- Taywee 4y ago
  Most people won't shrug off the loss of a material investment of over a thousand dollars.
- NovemberWhiskey 4y ago
  Your data is valuable to you, but unless you happen to be Hunter Biden it's probably valueless to anyone else. On the other hand, your hardware is valuable to a thief who can resell it. Full-disk encryption protects your data. Activation locking dissuades theft. Personally, I want both.

Because the actually valuable content (the data) is protected, while the disposable part (the hardware) is taken. If you have a responsible backup habit, disaster recovery is as simple as restoring another device. FDE gives you permission to shrug-off lost devices and data, something an unencrypted laptop can't quite offer.

kube-system 4y ago
Thieves don't steal devices to sell the data. They steal devices to sell the device.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- lwkl 4y ago
  It's not about the thieves intent. It's about the person that ends up with a stolen or recycled device that wasn't properly wiped and now has a bunch of sensitive data on the hard drive (you can find tons of stories like that). Also industrial espionage is a thing and but I agree with you that's probably a minority of thefts.
  - kube-system 4y ago
    Yes, I know what FDE is good for. But it doesn't prevent or deter anyone from stealing the device, as Activation Lock does. FDE has no utility in reducing the value of a stolen device, because they can be simply reset to factory settings.
    - smoldesu 4y ago
      I could also deter thieves from stealing Macbooks by engineering it to detonate the battery when an unauthorized user takes it. That doesn't make it right, or justify the collateral damage caused by the feature.
      - kube-system 4y ago
        Booby traps are illegal because they harm indiscriminately.
      - threeseed 4y ago
        Sorry, at what point did anyone suggest that turning the MacBook into a bomb is right or justified.
    - lwkl 4y ago
      It does in combination with with Activation Lock or similar technology that is available x86 devices.
      - kube-system 4y ago
        The claim above being disputed is that FDE alone makes it useless to steal a laptop.
tsimionescu 4y ago
You've got it the other way around: for a thief stealing a laptop whilee you're careless in a coffee shop, the actually valuable content is the hardware, while the data is the disposable part. Sometimes the data can be valuable as well (perhaps you can be blackmailed, or perhaps they can steal additional things from your bank accounts etc), but that is far from guaranteed. The hardware has a clear value though.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
Taywee 4y ago
Most people won't shrug off the loss of a material investment of over a thousand dollars.
NovemberWhiskey 4y ago
Your data is valuable to you, but unless you happen to be Hunter Biden it's probably valueless to anyone else. On the other hand, your hardware is valuable to a thief who can resell it. Full-disk encryption protects your data. Activation locking dissuades theft. Personally, I want both.