Just when it seemed safe to leave your laptop computer in "sleep" or "hibernation" mode, comes a startling report that a computer left in such a mode is extremely vulnerable to confidentiality breaches. A research team that includes researchers from Princeton University and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) have found a security flaw in disk encryption technology used in many PCs and Apple computers, allowing unauthorized access to the data.

According to the EFF report, "[l]aptops are particularly vulnerable to this attack, especially when they are turned on but locked, or in a "sleep" or "hibernation" mode entered when the laptop's cover is shut. Even though the machines require a password to unlock the screen, the encryption keys are already located in the RAM, which provides an opportunity for attackers with malicious intent."

The research paper characterizes this new discovery as a major security flaw because it goes to the fundamental architechual features that disk encryption products have in common. This flaw can be easily exploited on laptops, but servers with encrypted hard drives are also vulnerable.

The world of mobile computer security continues to evolve, and lawyers must stay abreast of these developments or face the consequences imposed by Rule 1.6 of our Rules of Professional Conduct. Join us at Techshow on Saturday, March 15 at 9:45 am for Securing Your Client's Data While on the Road to help reduce the risks and improve your productivity while you are working away from your office.