Encrypting for Dummies

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Gudziel

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I am getting a new 16G Flash Drive today in the mail from Newegg. I want to use this as a means to keep very important personal documents on it to transport easily with me.

-- What is the best way to encrypt them incase I ever (god forbid) lose this drive?

-- When you encrypt files, how would it work if I want to open a file between different locations?

I am sure I have other questions, but those are the two major ones that come to mind right now....
 

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Gudziel said:
I am getting a new 16G Flash Drive today in the mail from Newegg. I want to use this as a means to keep very important personal documents on it to transport easily with me.

-- What is the best way to encrypt them incase I ever (god forbid) lose this drive?

-- When you encrypt files, how would it work if I want to open a file between different locations?

I am sure I have other questions, but those are the two major ones that come to mind right now....
Click to expand...

If there THAT important to you why not get a https://www.ironkey.com/ USB key with built in HARDWARE security. No use mucking around if youre serious, but if youre not serious, well there are plenty easilly cracked software solutions out there.

Built in security on it. I actually have a few these for work and personal files, they work great.
 

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Encrypting for Dummies
I am getting a new 16G Flash Drive today in the mail from Newegg. I want to use this as a means to keep very important personal documents on it to transport easily with me.

-- What is the best way to encrypt them incase I ever (god forbid) lose this drive?

-- When you encrypt files, how would it work if I want to open a file between different locations?

I am sure I have other questions, but those are the two major ones that come to mind right now....
Click to expand...

try turecypt its free, stable, many options, easy to use, good documnetation,
you cant go wrong

even though the file is encrypted it is still handeld by the system as a normal file
 

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    We Can DO I.T.
nso5300 said:
Encrypting for Dummies
I am getting a new 16G Flash Drive today in the mail from Newegg. I want to use this as a means to keep very important personal documents on it to transport easily with me.

-- What is the best way to encrypt them incase I ever (god forbid) lose this drive?

-- When you encrypt files, how would it work if I want to open a file between different locations?

I am sure I have other questions, but those are the two major ones that come to mind right now....
Click to expand...

try turecypt its free, stable, many options, easy to use, good documnetation,
you cant go wrong

even though the file is encrypted it is still handeld by the system as a normal file
Click to expand...

With truecrypt, youre SOL if both systems dont run it.

example:

System A has true crypt, so I encrypt USB drive.

System B does not, I insert truecrypt encrypted drive...I am screwed.

Its not truely portable, while https://www.ironkey.com/ is truely portable. Any software solution wont be truely portable unless every system you want to read the USB stick on has that software.
 

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Wow, those drives are not cheap! lol....

The reason these documents are important is that they have my SSN on them. That's all. I just really want an encryption program that I can install on my computer at work and on my home pc (i do great work while i'm "working").

I am just interested in the best program that I can get to install on both PC's.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel Core2Duo E8400 3.0GHz
    Motherboard
    eVGA NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI
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    OCZ NVIDIA SLI-Ready Edition 4x2GB PC6400 DDR2800 4-4-4-15
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    eVGA GeForce GTX 260 896MB GDDR3
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    LG - 23" Widescreen Flat-Panel LCD HD Monitor - Black
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    OCZ GameXStream 600W
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    Cooler Master HAF 932
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Gudziel said:
Wow, those drives are not cheap! lol....

The reason these documents are important is that they have my SSN on them. That's all. I just really want an encryption program that I can install on my computer at work and on my home pc (i do great work while i'm "working").

I am just interested in the best program that I can get to install on both PC's.
Click to expand...

No, there not cheap, but they are the best of breed also. I hjave a 8GB personal I bought and a 8GB enterprise for work.
 

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wwoods said:
Gudziel said:
Wow, those drives are not cheap! lol....

The reason these documents are important is that they have my SSN on them. That's all. I just really want an encryption program that I can install on my computer at work and on my home pc (i do great work while i'm "working").

I am just interested in the best program that I can get to install on both PC's.
Click to expand...

No, there not cheap, but they are the best of breed also. I hjave a 8GB personal I bought and a 8GB enterprise for work.
Click to expand...

1Gig for $80.... I can afford it but it's not really worth it. Thanks though for informing me that those drives exist. One day I might need one for something. But until then I'm happy with my 16Gigs "Diesel" drive I got for $35.

For any program I get to encrypt my files, as long as I have that program on the PC I am working on, will it automatically decrypt it? or are things password protected? how does that work? and again, I ask what is the best program out there for it? Free or not does not matter. Truecrypt?

(just re-read this post.... didn't mean to sound like a dick if I came acrossed that way at all)
 

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    Intel Core2Duo E8400 3.0GHz
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So Truecrypt?
 

My Computer

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  • CPU
    Intel Core2Duo E8400 3.0GHz
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    eVGA GeForce GTX 260 896MB GDDR3
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    Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 7.1
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    LG - 23" Widescreen Flat-Panel LCD HD Monitor - Black
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    Cooler Master HAF 932
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is there anything I should know about using encryption software before I attempt anything? I have never done this before
 

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    Intel Core2Duo E8400 3.0GHz
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    LG - 23" Widescreen Flat-Panel LCD HD Monitor - Black
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    Seagate Barracuda 250GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
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    OCZ GameXStream 600W
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    Cooler Master HAF 932
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler, 6x120mm, 2x140mm
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    Logitech G51 155 watts RMS 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel Core2Duo E8400 3.0GHz
    Motherboard
    eVGA NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI
    Memory
    OCZ NVIDIA SLI-Ready Edition 4x2GB PC6400 DDR2800 4-4-4-15
    Graphics card(s)
    eVGA GeForce GTX 260 896MB GDDR3
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 7.1
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    LG - 23" Widescreen Flat-Panel LCD HD Monitor - Black
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    Seagate Barracuda 250GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
    PSU
    OCZ GameXStream 600W
    Case
    Cooler Master HAF 932
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler, 6x120mm, 2x140mm
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    Logitech G51 155 watts RMS 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers
my bad
With truecrypt, youre SOL if both systems dont run it.

example:

System A has true crypt, so I encrypt USB drive.

System B does not, I insert truecrypt encrypted drive...I am screwed.
Click to expand...

truecrypt dosent have to be installed in your system
i have a small 256 flash disk that i use for storing PWs. You have to keep in mind you dont have to encrypt the whole volume you can create a encrpyted "Partition", on this "encrpyted Partition"of the volume is were i store all the sensitve data. On the "normal Partition" i have a copy of the truecrypt.exe file which i can run on any system
 

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System One

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    We Can DO I.T.
Great Idea!

Ok, STUPID QUESTION....

How would I partition my 16Gig stick to do this?
 

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  • CPU
    Intel Core2Duo E8400 3.0GHz
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    eVGA NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI
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    OCZ NVIDIA SLI-Ready Edition 4x2GB PC6400 DDR2800 4-4-4-15
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    eVGA GeForce GTX 260 896MB GDDR3
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 7.1
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    LG - 23" Widescreen Flat-Panel LCD HD Monitor - Black
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
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    Seagate Barracuda 250GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
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    OCZ GameXStream 600W
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    Cooler Master HAF 932
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    Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler, 6x120mm, 2x140mm
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    Logitech G51 155 watts RMS 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers
nso5300 said:
my bad
With truecrypt, youre SOL if both systems dont run it.

example:

System A has true crypt, so I encrypt USB drive.

System B does not, I insert truecrypt encrypted drive...I am screwed.
Click to expand...

truecrypt dosent have to be installed in your system
i have a small 256 flash disk that i use for storing PWs. You have to keep in mind you dont have to encrypt the whole volume you can create a encrpyted "Partition", on this "encrpyted Partition"of the volume is were i store all the sensitve data. On the "normal Partition" i have a copy of the truecrypt.exe file which i can run on any system
Click to expand...

Actually, on second thought, how would that work? The only problem I am having with that is if some joe-schmoe finds my stick on the street somewhere, what's stopping them from installing the program they have access to and then having access to my files? It would kinda be like carrying my debit card around and on the back having my pin # written on it
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel Core2Duo E8400 3.0GHz
    Motherboard
    eVGA NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI
    Memory
    OCZ NVIDIA SLI-Ready Edition 4x2GB PC6400 DDR2800 4-4-4-15
    Graphics card(s)
    eVGA GeForce GTX 260 896MB GDDR3
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 7.1
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG - 23" Widescreen Flat-Panel LCD HD Monitor - Black
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Barracuda 250GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
    PSU
    OCZ GameXStream 600W
    Case
    Cooler Master HAF 932
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler, 6x120mm, 2x140mm
    Other Info
    Logitech G51 155 watts RMS 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers
If I encrypt files in XP or Vista, as long as it is using the same program, will it be ok to go back and forth?
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel Core2Duo E8400 3.0GHz
    Motherboard
    eVGA NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI
    Memory
    OCZ NVIDIA SLI-Ready Edition 4x2GB PC6400 DDR2800 4-4-4-15
    Graphics card(s)
    eVGA GeForce GTX 260 896MB GDDR3
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 7.1
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG - 23" Widescreen Flat-Panel LCD HD Monitor - Black
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Barracuda 250GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
    PSU
    OCZ GameXStream 600W
    Case
    Cooler Master HAF 932
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler, 6x120mm, 2x140mm
    Other Info
    Logitech G51 155 watts RMS 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers
Actually, on second thought, how would that work? The only problem I am having with that is if some joe-schmoe finds my stick on the street somewhere, what's stopping them from installing the program they have access to and then having access to my files? It would kinda be like carrying my debit card around and on the back having my pin # written on it
Click to expand...

the encrpyted partion is password proteced so if joe does find your usb stick he would need the password to access the files. just like when you use WLAN you see many different wlan networks but you can only access the ones you have a password to. theoretically;)

TrueCrypt - Free Open-Source Disk Encryption - Documentation - this should anwser all your questions about true crypt plus a few gerenal questions
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Sony Vaio
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 duo
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 3400 Series
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    400 GB
    Case
    Laptop
    Internet Speed
    DSL 2 Mbps in dec 16 yesssss
    Other Info
    We Can DO I.T.
nso5300 said:
Actually, on second thought, how would that work? The only problem I am having with that is if some joe-schmoe finds my stick on the street somewhere, what's stopping them from installing the program they have access to and then having access to my files? It would kinda be like carrying my debit card around and on the back having my pin # written on it
Click to expand...

the encrpyted partion is password proteced so if joe does find your usb stick he would need the password to access the files. just like when you use WLAN you see many different wlan networks but you can only access the ones you have a password to. theoretically;)

TrueCrypt - Free Open-Source Disk Encryption - Documentation - this should anwser all your questions about true crypt plus a few gerenal questions
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for your help!!! I added to your rep for all of your help and the link. I really appreciate it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel Core2Duo E8400 3.0GHz
    Motherboard
    eVGA NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI
    Memory
    OCZ NVIDIA SLI-Ready Edition 4x2GB PC6400 DDR2800 4-4-4-15
    Graphics card(s)
    eVGA GeForce GTX 260 896MB GDDR3
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 7.1
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG - 23" Widescreen Flat-Panel LCD HD Monitor - Black
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Barracuda 250GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
    PSU
    OCZ GameXStream 600W
    Case
    Cooler Master HAF 932
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler, 6x120mm, 2x140mm
    Other Info
    Logitech G51 155 watts RMS 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers
no problem and thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Sony Vaio
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 duo
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 3400 Series
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    400 GB
    Case
    Laptop
    Internet Speed
    DSL 2 Mbps in dec 16 yesssss
    Other Info
    We Can DO I.T.
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