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I use full-disk encryption and encrypt backups, but I only reboot my computer once a month or so to upgrade the kernel. So in almost all vectors by which my co
by jedbrown 13y ago
I use full-disk encryption and encrypt backups, but I only reboot my computer once a month or so to upgrade the kernel. So in almost all vectors by which my computer could be stolen, it will just be sleeping. How worried should I be that DRAM is not encrypted? Unlike the encryption password, the screen lock password gets typed often and in public places so I doubt it would foil a sophisticated thief.
- MichaelGG 13y agoFirst, I believe I read something that with newer memory, even cold freezing the RAM is not enough to reliably pull off an attack. Second, it's so incredibly unlikely that just a thief is going to not try to reboot the machine. It's probably not exceedingly difficult to slap an acoustic keylogger near you, then steal all your passwords. If you're really worried about that level of adversary, then keep your laptop physically secured and powered off. And don't use it after breaking chain of custody.
- tripzilch 13y ago> It's probably not exceedingly difficult to slap an acoustic keylogger near you, then steal all your passwords. Umm did the accuracy of this technique improve markedly over the last few years, or did I miss something? Last I heard they got an ~80% per-character accuracy, given it can be calibrated with a keyboard of the same make, as well as the room it'll be in. Which is enough that it can technically be done, but it's not really a "just slap it on there" procedure.