Encryption Software for Vista

[Don Bouchard]

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.

 

[THX]

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.

 

[Adam Albright]

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.

 

[Kevin Young]

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.

If you have Vista Ultimate you can use Bitlocker to encrypt your entire hard
drive. Bitlocker works with either a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) which is
a built-in hardware solution for storing your encryption keys available on
some laptops or you can use a USB thumb drive for storing your encryption
keys. Bitlocker is fairly simple to turn on. Let us know if you have Vista
Ultimate and we can explain how.

Another option is Truecrypt which is a free open source encryption program.
Truecrypt and instructions for it are available here: <www.truecrypt.com>
Truecrypt creates and encrypted volume on your hard drive or other drive
where you can store your files in an encrypted form. There is a beginners
tutorial for truecrypt here:
<http://www.truecrypt.org/docs/>

 

[Tom Allen]

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.

Full version WinZip AES encrypted archives are simple and flexible to
use and you won't lose the data as long as you have a copy of the
archive file, your remembered passphrase and of course WinZip. You do
need to take care of originals and extracted files/folders in clear
yourself of course.

Any further opinion on how secure these really are, assuming a good
passphrase ?

Tom

 

[No.Thanks]

If you have Vista Ultimate you can use Bitlocker to encrypt your entire hard
drive. Bitlocker works with either a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) which is
a built-in hardware solution for storing your encryption keys available on
some laptops or you can use a USB thumb drive for storing your encryption
keys. Bitlocker is fairly simple to turn on. Let us know if you have Vista
Ultimate and we can explain how.

Another option is Truecrypt which is a free open source encryption program.
Truecrypt and instructions for it are available here: <www.truecrypt.com>
Truecrypt creates and encrypted volume on your hard drive or other drive
where you can store your files in an encrypted form. There is a beginners
tutorial for truecrypt here:
<http://www.truecrypt.org/docs/>

One thing I like about PGP is that it lets you encrypt a file(s) into
a encrypted self extracting file. As long as you have the password it
will extract all the files. Unfortunately, they have no plans for a
Vista 64 version at this time...

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