What type of attack does disk-level encryption help mitigate regarding data access?

Disk-level encryption is a security measure that is specifically designed to protect data stored on a physical drive by converting it into a format that cannot be read without the proper decryption key. This form of encryption acts as a barrier against unauthorized access, ensuring that even if someone physically steals the device, they cannot access the data without the correct credentials.

When considering physical theft, if a laptop or external hard drive is stolen, the data on it remains secure and encrypted. The thief would need the decryption key to make sense of the information, rendering the stolen data useless. This is a fundamental defense, especially for organizations that handle sensitive information and want to prevent data breaches due to lost or stolen hardware.

In contrast, other types of attacks like virus infections typically target software vulnerabilities, network eavesdropping focuses on data interception during transmission, and unauthorized remote access involves exploiting network security flaws. These issues are not directly addressed by disk-level encryption, which specifically targets the physical safeguard of data at rest, making it effective against physical theft.