How to encrypt data on your laptop for holiday travel

As we head into a summer full of airports, car rentals and other assorted travel, the reality of lost laptops with confidential/private data has begun to set in.

With Windows XP Pro and Windows Vista, Microsoft offers a nifty feature to encrypt files or folders using Encrypting File System (EFS).

Here's how to encrypt your files or folders. When you are logged on to your computer, you'll be able to read them. Anyone who tries to use your computer without your logon will not be able to read them.

To begin, click Start, then All Programs, then Accessories, then click Windows Explorer.