I would like some advice on how to keep my personal data safe.

[rhett o rick]

I fall into the novice category for using computers. I understand that I shouldnt keep any personal data on my hard-drive.
If I keep the data on a memory stick, what is the recommendation for making the memory stick secure? I could hide it, but that adds inconvenience when I want to use it. What do most people do?

Second question, what is recommended about the complication of passwords? I tend to use simple ones for things that arent important or personal, and try to have stronger ones for that data that is more important. What is recommended for remembering passwords or keeping them in writing?

[hollysmom]

1. passwords

I use the same one for message boards, who cares if some one steals it. As for more sensitive stuff, I use separate and unique ones, but ones that are buried in my child hood - my stuffed pet giraffe's name and the age I was when I had it, books I read and the number of the series I read, - I keep a note pad and I put this descriptive information down not the actual passwords, I will remember my stuffed giraffes name, but will the thief? heck I asked my sister and she didn't even remember I had a pet giraffe. I have separate e-mails for my bank, my taxes, my paypal and for E-bay. I don't get scams that way. I get paypal scams all the time in my day to day e-mail, but not the paypal only account. Makes it easy to manage, but you have to remember to check each e-mail once a month so it does not expire.

[rhett o rick]

2. I do something similar with passwords. I also have a few emails but not to the extent you do.

What about financial data? I keep mine on a flashdrive but dont know where to put the flashdrive so I can get to it easily and still hope that a thief wont.

[PrestonLocke]

3. Truecrypt

Open source encryption. http://www.truecrypt.org/

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

4. I take a systematic approach to important data

One of the fundamental things to do is create categories. I've taken the time record a lot of movies/music and make it network accessible. I don't want lose it so I keep 2 backups but I'm don't need to password protect it. Sensitive data like tax records and bank statements need protection. IMHO, PGP < http://www.symantec.com/encryption > is versatile and strong.