I was recently intrigued to learn that only half of the respondents to a survey said that they used disk encryption. Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows have been increasingly using encryption by default. On the other hand, while most Linux installers I’ve encountered include the option to encrypt, it is not selected by default.

Whether it’s a test bench, beater laptop, NAS, or daily driver, I encrypt for peace of mind. Whatever I end up doing on my machines, I can be pretty confident my data won’t end up in the wrong hands if the drive is stolen or lost and can be erased by simply overwriting the LUKS header. Recovering from an unbootable state or copying files out from an encrypted boot drive only takes a couple more commands compared to an unencrypted setup.

But that’s just me and I’m curious to hear what other reasons to encrypt or not to encrypt are out there.

  • monovergent 🏁@lemmy.mlOP
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    12
    ·
    1 day ago

    Possibly overestimating the value of the data entrusted to me, but whenever I see that xkcd, I like to think that I at least have the option to remain silent and die with dignity if I really don’t want the contents of my disk out there.

    • Auli@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      9 hours ago

      Nothing I have is worth dying over. I’d give up on the first threat.

      Drives in server are not encrypted but backups to the cloud are. Laptop used to but causes to many issues and it doesn’t really leave the house much.

    • plant_based_monero@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      1 day ago

      If I remember correctly, some USA agency said torture is ineffective because you will talk, you like it or not. When you are asking someone for a thing they don’t know they will say a lie just to stop the pain. So I guess anyone will give their password with enough time