[ltp] Hard disk password & linux

[David A. Desrosiers]

> > I thought I'd pose the question, although it has already been 
> > noted in some thinkpad linux faqs, but here goes: is it possible 
> > to use the hard-disk password with linux?  I've heard the answer 
> > is no, but was wondering if there has been any progress on this 
> > front.

> What would be the point?  You can configure Linux to run without a 
> password.

	I think the point is to run Linux _with_ a password, and 
specifically to ensure that if someone takes his machine, they can't 
boot it up with KNOPPIX or similar forensics tools and get to the data 
on the disk. 

	Of course this means he'll have to be using filesystem-level 
encryption on the disk and swap, but that's not hard to set up, and 
there is no way anyone can get to the data on the disk (in any 
readible way) without the key. A nice 8192 byte key should do nicely 
to thwart brute force for at least the next 50 years, after which 
you'll be dead anyway, and your secrets probably won't matter.



David A. Desrosiers
desrod@gnu-designs.com
http://gnu-designs.com