Basic security

[xcal]

Hi group

I dont have xp rigth now, so this message can have some inexact information,
but I believe here its enough to understand.

I rigth clicked one folder inside MyDocuments, and then I established this
folder as private, meaning that other users of the same computer cant see
file content of any
file inside this folder. Then I placed the hard disk on another computer, to
verify that file content cant be accessed, and verified all ok, files cannot
be read.

The folder was not encripted, because it have exe files wich Im affraid,
could be damaged, I dont know if such damage by using encription, is
possible.

Do you think the folder content is really innaccesible?. I recall the aspect
that I dont want to encript by the presence of .exe files.

Of course, resuming I say: Is a folder made private, secure if other persons
take your hard disk?, at least under usual attacks, DOS access, Safe Mode
Access, etc.

Of course, all would be decided if I can encript the folder.

Thanks very much in advance, Carlos.

 

[Mark Dormer]

Hi group

I dont have xp rigth now, so this message can have some inexact
information,
but I believe here its enough to understand.

I rigth clicked one folder inside MyDocuments, and then I established this
folder as private, meaning that other users of the same computer cant see
file content of any
file inside this folder. Then I placed the hard disk on another computer,
to
verify that file content cant be accessed, and verified all ok, files
cannot
be read.

The folder was not encripted, because it have exe files wich Im affraid,
could be damaged, I dont know if such damage by using encription, is
possible.

Do you think the folder content is really innaccesible?. I recall the
aspect
that I dont want to encript by the presence of .exe files.

Of course, resuming I say: Is a folder made private, secure if other
persons
take your hard disk?, at least under usual attacks, DOS access, Safe Mode
Access, etc.

Of course, all would be decided if I can encript the folder.

Thanks very much in advance, Carlos.

The folder/files are easily accesible.
Anyone with Admin rights can take ownership of the folder and see it all.

So if I put the drive in any computer I own I can see your files.
If I have administrator rights on your PC I can access the files.

Encryption won't hurt the executable files.

Regards
Mark Dormer

 

[xcal]

Hi Mark, thanks for your quick answer and your comments

The folder/files are easily accesible.
Anyone with Admin rights can take ownership of the folder and see it all.

Excuseme Mark, I forgot to specify I consider the fact that the hard disk
could be stolen, and I assume I use a strong password for Admin on my
computer. This simplifies the discussion.

So if I put the drive in any computer I own I can see your files.
If I have administrator rights on your PC I can access the files.
Encryption won't hurt the executable files.

by the way, I suspected exe files could be damaged,
because in XP you read that its not good to use compression and encription
at the same time, so I inferred that posibly, also the same would apply to
use
encription and executable format. Well, I dont know anything about
executable format, but I guess those are a form of compression.

Please permit to me to ask you why do you assert that exe files shall not be
damaged ?.

Best regards, Carlos.

 

[HeyBub]

Hi Mark, thanks for your quick answer and your comments


Excuseme Mark, I forgot to specify I consider the fact that the hard
disk could be stolen, and I assume I use a strong password for Admin
on my computer. This simplifies the discussion.

Nope. Admin passwords - and even most BIOS passwords - are almost trivial to
defeat.

Google for "XP+password" and you'll find oodles of ways to circumvent the
password.

Good encryption, on the other hand, cannot be defeated - even by the NSA.

 

[Bill in Co.]

And we ALL know that we NEED such heavy protection these days, right?

Yup. Just like we all "NEED" SP3 (cough).

 

[xcal]

I believe a good thing would be only to verify that encrypt-drecript process
did not alter the original file. Such procedure would must be made for each
file!
Carlos.

 

[Mark Dormer]

I believe a good thing would be only to verify that encrypt-drecript
process
did not alter the original file. Such procedure would must be made for
each
file!
Carlos.

When you encrypt something and then unencrypt it you return to the original
state, to do otherwise would be pointless.

Files or folders that are compressed cannot also be encrypted. If you
encrypt a compressed file or folder, that file or folder will be
uncompressed. (not damaged).
Remember this pertains to EFS on NTFS

If I encrypt my system partition on a windows system and it still runs, do
you think the executables are being damaged?

have a read of these sites
http://www.truecrypt.org/
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/se...s/cryptographyetc/protect_data_efs.mspx#EYNAE

Regards
Mark Dormer