What does disk-level encryption protect?

Disk-level encryption is designed to protect the entire volume or disk, meaning it secures all the data stored on that disk, including files, applications, and system data. This form of encryption encrypts the data at the lowest level, ensuring that everything on the disk is rendered unreadable without the appropriate decryption key.

By securing the whole volume, disk encryption safeguards sensitive information from unauthorized access, even if the physical disk is removed from the device. It provides a comprehensive layer of data protection, as all content on the disk, including the operating system itself, is encrypted.

As for the other options, they focus on specific areas of data: operating system files are just a part of what disk encryption protects, while passwords and user accounts are often stored as files within the encrypted volume. Network connections refer to data in transit, which is not covered by disk-level encryption; that is a different aspect of data security typically addressed by protocols like VPNs or SSL/TLS encryption.