Accessing data on an unencrypted hard drive

[jmt356]

How difficult is it to access information on an unencrypted hard drive?

Is it simply a matter of pulling out the hard disk and reading the data on a separate device?

Can it be done by removing the Windows password with WinPE or similar software without having to remove the hard disk?

How much security can one put into having a Windows password?

[StuartR]

An unencrypted hard drive can simply be connected to a different computer and read. You may need to seize ownership of files if the permissions don't allow you to access them, but you can do that from any account with Administrator privileges on the computer you connected the disk to.