Encryption software?

[Ian]

Running XP Home.

I want to install encryption software on my laptop, to encrypt user
files to prevent prying eyes looking at them in the event that the
laptop is stolen.

In the past I have looked at various solutions, but they were mostly
enterprise implementations and very expensive. Can anyone
suggest/recommend a low-cost (ideally free) solution?

I do *not* want to rely on built-in XP encryption (even if it is
available on XP Home).

 

[Kayman]

Running XP Home.

I want to install encryption software on my laptop, to encrypt user
files to prevent prying eyes looking at them in the event that the
laptop is stolen.

In the past I have looked at various solutions, but they were mostly
enterprise implementations and very expensive. Can anyone
suggest/recommend a low-cost (ideally free) solution?

I do *not* want to rely on built-in XP encryption (even if it is
available on XP Home).

http://www.truecrypt.org/

 

[db.·.. >]

since you will have to
use passwords to ensure
a degree of privacy, i
would use them at the
hardware level instead
of the software level.

especially, since the encrypting
software may surcome to the
hazards of an infection and
perhaps reduce system performance
as well.

--------------

you may want to set passwords
for the bios and then another
for the harddrive and then at the
windows login.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces

 

[MeHuman]

http://www.truecrypt.org/

I second that.

fred

 

[John Wunderlich]

I second that.

I'll third that.
One of the top-10 freeware products on the web.

-- John

 

[John Wunderlich]

since you will have to
use passwords to ensure
a degree of privacy, i
would use them at the
hardware level instead
of the software level.

especially, since the encrypting
software may surcome to the
hazards of an infection and
perhaps reduce system performance
as well.

--------------

you may want to set passwords
for the bios and then another
for the harddrive and then at the
windows login.

Which can all be circumvented by removing the disk and plugging it into
a Linux system.

If he's got my name, SS#, and credit card number on his disk, I
wouldn't be happy with your solution.

-- John

 

[db.·.. >]

you're assuming that if someone
steals a laptop, they will go
through the trouble and utilize
another system & o.s. to unlock
the disk.

what you fail to mention is
that if the o.p. chooses an
encryption software and it
crashes or timesout or if
the o.p. upgrades to vista,
then the software will crash
and take the encrypted data
with it.



--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces

 

[AJR]

Consider Vista with "Bitlocker" capability. Computer cannot be booted -
key required and HD cannot be re moved and accessed by any OS. Encryption
can also be used in conjunction with Bitlocker.

 

[Twayne]

http://www.truecrypt.org/

Then you have eliminated the best, most reliable encryption you could
use.

 

[Twayne]

Which can all be circumvented by removing the disk and plugging it
into a Linux system.

If he's got my name, SS#, and credit card number on his disk, I
wouldn't be happy with your solution.

-- John

No Linux system couuld circumvent XP's encryption unless you were
foolish enough to keep your encryption keys on the same computer, in
which case anyone could beat it. You cannot even reinstall XP and
expect to be able to read the encrypted files unless you have the
encryption keys. It would take a very long time to break the
encryption.

 

[Jim]

Running XP Home.

I want to install encryption software on my laptop, to encrypt user
files to prevent prying eyes looking at them in the event that the
laptop is stolen.

In the past I have looked at various solutions, but they were mostly
enterprise implementations and very expensive. Can anyone
suggest/recommend a low-cost (ideally free) solution?

I do *not* want to rely on built-in XP encryption (even if it is
available on XP Home).

http://www.truecrypt.org/
never used it , but seems popular .

 

[John Wunderlich]

you're assuming that if someone
steals a laptop, they will go
through the trouble and utilize
another system & o.s. to unlock
the disk.

It's not a lot of trouble. Most disk drives delivered with laptops
do not have a hardware lock/encryption feature.

what you fail to mention is
that if the o.p. chooses an
encryption software and it
crashes or timesout or if
the o.p. upgrades to vista,
then the software will crash
and take the encrypted data
with it.

Maybe if you use Microsoft's built-in EFS, but a program like
Truecrypt would only take a sector or two out under the worst of the
conditions you cite.

-- John

 

[John Wunderlich]

No Linux system couuld circumvent XP's encryption unless you were
foolish enough to keep your encryption keys on the same computer,
in which case anyone could beat it. You cannot even reinstall XP
and expect to be able to read the encrypted files unless you have
the encryption keys. It would take a very long time to break the
encryption.

The OP said that he did not want to use Microsoft's Encrypting File
System (EFS) which is the only native encryption that I am aware of
under XP whose protection is not easily circumvented by Linux.

-- John

 

[Ian]

The OP said that he did not want to use Microsoft's Encrypting File
System (EFS) which is the only native encryption that I am aware of
under XP whose protection is not easily circumvented by Linux.

OP here.

Point taken, John, but my main concern is "reasonable" protection of
files in the event of theft. There is nothing earth-shatteringly secret
on the laptop (I don't use it for Internet banking or anything like
that), and if someone is really determined to decrypt the files they
would be disappointed at what they find. My assumption is that if the
laptop were stolen, it would immediately be sold on to someone else for
a quick buck, without any thought being given to what information is
actually on it. I just don't want the eventual purchaser browsing
casually thru my underwear

From the earlier replies, it looks like TrueCrypt is worth looking at.
Thanks for all the responses.

 

[John Wunderlich]

OP here.

Point taken, John, but my main concern is "reasonable" protection
of files in the event of theft. There is nothing
earth-shatteringly secret on the laptop (I don't use it for
Internet banking or anything like that), and if someone is really
determined to decrypt the files they would be disappointed at what
they find. My assumption is that if the laptop were stolen, it
would immediately be sold on to someone else for a quick buck,
without any thought being given to what information is actually on
it. I just don't want the eventual purchaser browsing casually
thru my underwear

From the earlier replies, it looks like TrueCrypt is worth
looking at.
Thanks for all the responses.

I've used Truecrypt from when it was called "Scramdisk" on Windows98
and "E4M" (Encryption for Masses) on Win2K. They merged for the
first version of TrueCrypt, then Scramdisk support was dropped and
Truecrypt took off based mostly on the old E4M. Even though it
supports industrial-strength encryption, the user interface is
remarkably simple, reliable, and the program is free. I have never
lost a Truecrypt Container. Although you didn't state your need in
your original post, your usage is similar to mine. Give it a try.