A group led by a Princeton University computer security researcher has developed a simple method to steal encrypted information stored on computer hard disks.  When the computer’s electrical power is shut off, the data, including the keys, is supposed to disappear.  Seems a fast-freeze of DRAM chips keeps the data in memory including the keys to modern data-scrambling algorithms even when the power has been shut off.

Laptops are especially vulnerable to the attack when the machines are in lock, sleep, or hibernation modes, according to the report.  Researchers say the attack technique is likely to be effective against many other computer disk encryption systems because of structural similarities.

Check it out.    Is Your Data Safe?