Which technology protects the contents of the storage device when the operating system is not running?

Which technology protects the contents of the storage device when the operating system is not running?

• A. ASLR
• B. Local Drive Encryption
• C. NX Bit
• D. XN Bit

Answer: (B)

Local drive encryption protects data at rest on the storage device. Even when the operating system isn’t running, the data on the disk remains encrypted and unreadable without the proper authentication or keys, so someone who gains physical access to the drive can’t view the contents. This contrasts with memory-protection techniques like ASLR, which randomizes where programs run in memory to hinder exploits, and NX/XN bits, which prevent execution of code from certain memory regions. Those memory protections don’t secure stored data when the OS is off, making local drive encryption the appropriate choice.

Local drive encryption protects data at rest on the storage device. Even when the operating system isn’t running, the data on the disk remains encrypted and unreadable without the proper authentication or keys, so someone who gains physical access to the drive can’t view the contents. This contrasts with memory-protection techniques like ASLR, which randomizes where programs run in memory to hinder exploits, and NX/XN bits, which prevent execution of code from certain memory regions. Those memory protections don’t secure stored data when the OS is off, making local drive encryption the appropriate choice.