encryption

[deggers316]

word of warning i used a prog called cryptainer which makes a partion on your hard drive to store your important files obviously password protected all was well for 6 weeks then without any input from me it dissapeard, when i clicked on the desktop short cut i got install now ! the lot had gone no retrieval at all, good job i had all my important files up to a week before backed up on disc,i would not recommend this to anyone with out a back up

[squarebear]

I assume you had a genuine version and not just a cracked copy?

[rojash]

"i would not recommend this to anyone with out a back up"
but wouldn't that kind of defeat the object - all you files securely encrypted in one place, but stored unencrypted in another? Bit like putting a burglar-proof lock on the front door, but leaving the back door open in case you lose your keys...

[deggers316]

rogan
give people some credit !
yeah sure use an encryption prog and leave the back up disc on the comp desk, really

[deggers316]

squarebear it was downloaded as a freebie in computer active magazine from the site they recommend

[fo3nix]

Is it this:
http://www.cypherix.com/cryptainerle/

If so, I would never, ever use it.

All security products that encrypt data should be open source. If not, then unless you know and personally trust the people that make it, you cannot trust the product. Thus, you shouldn't use it.

Rojash is correct though -- while a backup is good, and it's a good job you did it this time, it really does defeat the object of using encryption in the first place, unless you store the backup in a place with as good or better security than the data you lost.

If you still want to do this -- and it's a good idea to -- then use TrueCrypt. Free software (and thus open source), tried and tested, including by many security experts in the industry.

http://www.truecrypt.org/

[deggers316]

thank but my answer as to rojash stands i'm not stupid enough to leave a back up disc about, its in my digital bolted to the floor safe
anyway many thanks
but why is this prog promoted by computer active mag if its not safe

[ACtheTROLL]

I'd go with fo3nix's (or 3iPods as I now think of him ;-)
second suggestion ... truecrypt

I've used it for ages ... oh and I back my files up regularly (why would is be stupid to do so?)

with truecrypt ... create a virtual disc thats 4.6Gb in size ... and fill it up with files .... from time to time backup the container to DVD - safe and sound .... and I include the truecrypt install (which is quite happy working stand alone)
so the risk is minimal and access to the files just requires my password


btw ... who's rogan? ... do you mean ROgan JaSH (my fave indian)?
as for giving credit ... well you lost the files ... not him ....

[deggers316]

thanks for all your replies fellas (well nearly all)
will go with truecrypt.

[fo3nix]

As for why it's included with the magazine: simple. Whoever decided to add it doesn't understand security.

If you can't check for yourself that something's secure, or trust someone else that tells you it is, then it's not secure.

TrueCrypt does a few things: make a special file on your drive that acts as a virtual partition, to put files in. Rest of drive is not encrypted. Or, encrypt an entire partition. Or, for Windows-only right now (difficulties with GNU/Linux and Mac OS X partitions so far -- Windows is their main market), you can encrypt the entire drive.

The latter is the newest function, but has been well tested seems to work very well.