Re: Encryption Software for Vista
On Wed, 04 Jul 2007 03:22:40 GMT, "THX" <no@email.invalid> wrote:
>
>"Don Bouchard" <dbouchard@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
>news:FjAii.37422$Um6.2831@newssvr12.news.prodigy.net...
>> Can anybody recommend encryption software, compatible with Vista. that can
>> be used by persons without a PhD in cryptography? I have tried Advanced
>> Encryption Package (AEP) 2007 Professional and the latest version of PGP.
>> Both come with insufficient documentation (what there is written is either
>> erroneous or itself encrypted with gobbledygook) and little or no
>> technical support. .
>>
>> I just need sufficient documentation to protect my financial and personal
>> files from hackers and thieves.
>>
>
>I don't know which software is best but if you want to keep those files
>secure then it is best to have two computers, one for the internet and one
>that is not connected to the internet. You can transfer any files you
>download from the internet one to the non-internet one via a thumb drive.
You can use Windows' own Encrypting File System (EFS) which is a
build-in feature of Vista. If you want simple you can't be it since it
is totally transparent once you set it up. The system automatically
encrypts and decrypts files as you access them making them secure from
hackers or thieves if your computer fell into the wrong hands. Learn
more in Vista's help.
There is a downside and a big one. If you lose the key you're screwed
with there being virtually no way to recover your data. People learn
the hard way if they ever have to reinstall Windows. Even data not on
your root drive is locked and lost forever if encrypted. So if you
EVER have to reinstall Vista or you move files off the system in their
encrypted state the system will treat you as a potential hacker and
you won't get access either. Your key will no longer work because the
encryption key when created is unique to each install and includes
hidden bits only Windows knows and creates randomly that can't be
duplicated even if you use the same exact key. So you need to be
careful and because of that not something for casual users.
Like the other poster said, if you have really personal stuff, that
shouldn't be on any computer that has access to the Internet. If you
must invest in a small external drive keep your personal stuff on that
drive and only have that drive on when you access it. Otherwise that
drive is off and safe from the outside world from Internet attack.
