Encryption Advice for someone with little computer skills

[Synonym]

Hi
Would really appreciate experienced view on protecting personal data (banking, etc) on a laptop.

Intel [email protected] with 16Gb Ram running Win 10 Home v.1909. Very old versions of Word and Excel. 2 SSD's

Unfortunately started using it before really thinking about security. Have already relocated the default "Documents" folder off of C: onto D: using the Location tab.

I want to secure my data so that anyone who gains physical access to my PC without my permission cannot see my personal word, excel files. I already use Firefox and have privacy set well on that, but i understand that the bookmarks are likely to see on the C drive....ot ideal, but not a big issue for me.

I don't know a great about PCs and need a stable and reliable system. Wondering whether to
1: Encrypt both C: and D: drives (using veracrypt). Question is will this slow my PC noticably? Will it make it less stable?

2. Encrypt only the D:. With 2 options
2a. Put the "Docs" folder on the D: and regularly (especially when travelling) clear all Temp Folders on the C drive to ensure no copies of documents are stored there (using Ccleaner or the like). I presume 2 things here - i) that Ccleaner/similar would remove any traces of personal files, word/excel, etc on the C: that I've had open and ii) this would this cause no issue at all to the running of the PC? Seems a little labour intensive but a safe/stable option.

2b. Put My Docs AND Windows Temp folders onto the D: and then encrypt. Would this potentially cause instability with Windows when the Temp folders are on the encrypted D:? Might it even stop windows booting up properly? I have no idea...i'm not that computer savvy.

Can someone please enlighten me as to the best approach, there is very likely other better ways i have not considered.

Thanks very much in advance
Syn

 

[Wolfie]

Hi Syn,

you could try allowing only specific people, right click a folder "Give access to" > "Specific people". I do not know how well this works so make copies of your files in that folder or create a new folder to test it!.

 

[Synonym]

Hi Wolfie
Thanks very much for your reply. Nice bit of lateral thinking there! I'll remember that for future.
Unfortunately, it won't suffice for the kind of protection i require. I'm thinking about if i had my laptop stolen, e.g. whilst travelling. I know the cloud is a good way to avoid having private data on your hardware, but i would not want to rely unpon that as the only copy of my files.

After much thinking, i've decided, I am going to encrypt my D: drive (2nd internal drive). I'll then move the deafult "Documents" folder and a couple of the other users data folders by changin their locations from the C: to the D:. Then crypt the D: As per this link - https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1964-move-users-folder-location-windows-10-a.html
I hope this won't cause any issue with software running properly.

There should then be very little if any private files (not even temp copies) left on the C: drive. This should mean little impact on performance and good stability and safety.
Thanks again.

 

[Wolfie]

Hi Syn,

if you do encrypt your other drive, I recommend making back up copies of your files to a USB stick or other storage medium as it is possible that something will go wrong with the process and you find yourself locked out of your files!.

I am not a fan of cloud services as the danger is that a server can be hacked, but that is just my own personal feelings on the matter!.

 

[Synonym]

HI Wolfie
Thank you for the warning and sensible advice. I appreciate it.

No, i agree with you there on cloud services.

 

[davehc]

"but that is just my own personal feelings on the matter !"
" " and mine!!

 

[Wolfie]

"but that is just my own personal feelings on the matter !"
" " and mine!!

Another point about Cloud services is the fact that the server may be down when you need it most!.