Protecting Files (Password) Help.

Ice Rich

Ice Rich

Ice Rich

Soldato
Joined
3 Dec 2004
Posts
2,639
Hi guys,

I have a backup computer which I use to store my documents,receipts,bills etc. I want to create a secure way of accessing them so no one could view them even if the computer was stolen, how would I go about doing that?

Is there a more secure way of just using a windows password?

Kind regards,
 
Thanks for suggestions guys :)

Hiding the computer is a valid option but as I need it to be plugged in I don't think it would be true practical.

I think using encryption with a password to get access to the folder would be the best solution but I don't know how best to go about it. Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks

BTW, its not that many documents. Mainly text/word files. Less then 100mb
 
ill let ya into a way i keep stuff safe

iv got a folder called A

inside that got one called A B C D E F

inside each one of them got one called A B C D E F,

and it just multiplys on and on inside each folder totalling 1000 folders, and only one combination of a word iv made from going through them for example,

A then C then F then D then B then B then A or so on, and iv made a 12 letter word

then at the end of the path is all my hidden stuff ;)



(thats guessing that people are tough enough to get through my password on my windows user account in general, only 1 account on my pc, and thats guessing there too retarded to press the search button inside the foldr)
 
IceShock said:
ill let ya into a way i keep stuff safe

iv got a folder called A

inside that got one called A B C D E F

inside each one of them got one called A B C D E F,

and it just multiplys on and on inside each folder totalling 1000 folders, and only one combination of a word iv made from going through them for example,

A then C then F then D then B then B then A or so on, and iv made a 12 letter word

then at the end of the path is all my hidden stuff ;)



(thats guessing that people are tough enough to get through my password on my windows user account in general, only 1 account on my pc, and thats guessing there too retarded to press the search button inside the foldr)
Click to expand...

thats good against 6 year olds, but if i was on it it would take me about 20 seconds to find your files
 
IceShock said:
thats guessing that people are tough enough to get through my password on my windows user account in general
Click to expand...
"What's Windows user account?"
That's what live Linux will say and gives access to all files.
Also there are tools which show size of content in each sub folder so with that it would be short work to find way to correct folder.
 
Thanks for all suggestions guys :)

Will look into TrueCrypt now :)

The A B C D E ,,,,, method sounds like a good idea, well done for thinking that up. Might also look into that.
 
IceShock said:
ill let ya into a way i keep stuff safe

...
A then C then F then D then B then B then A or so on, and iv made a 12 letter word

then at the end of the path is all my hidden stuff ;)
Click to expand...

My crystal ball says your password is MYPORNOSTASH
 
Hi guys,

I am still looking into this.

Do you think it would be ok to purchase a flash pen and install TrueCrypt on it making all files totally encrypted? Would that be better then just installing from Hard drive? That way if the computer fails I would have a hard backup too?
 
If you are looking into pen drives I can recommend the SanDisk Cruzer its got prebuild 256 AES encrpytion on it, I have been using one for some time now and I think its fantastic, though slighty expensive. My old Kingston Datatraveler II was also quite good, you could partition the drive to have a certain % of it password protected, however for overall security the SanDisk is much better in my opinion. Although they might be ott for you needs.
 
Daveangle said:
If you are looking into pen drives I can recommend the SanDisk Cruzer its got prebuild 256 AES encrpytion on it, I have been using one for some time now and I think its fantastic, though slighty expensive. My old Kingston Datatraveler II was also quite good, you could partition the drive to have a certain % of it password protected, however for overall security the SanDisk is much better in my opinion. Although they might be ott for you needs.
Click to expand...

Thanks very much for reply :)

I have herd of these pre-encrypted pen drives, can you tell me what the difference is between a device like yours and a normal pen drive with an application installed (like Trucrypt?)

Also, is the data you transfer to you key automatically encrypted?
Are you asked for a password each time you access it?

Kind regards,
 
IceShock said:
ill let ya into a way i keep stuff safe

iv got a folder called A

inside that got one called A B C D E F

inside each one of them got one called A B C D E F,

and it just multiplys on and on inside each folder totalling 1000 folders, and only one combination of a word iv made from going through them for example,

A then C then F then D then B then B then A or so on, and iv made a 12 letter word

then at the end of the path is all my hidden stuff ;)



(thats guessing that people are tough enough to get through my password on my windows user account in general, only 1 account on my pc, and thats guessing there too retarded to press the search button inside the foldr)
Click to expand...

hi2u windows search, even retarded people can use it

Just zip and pw it, a lot less hassle :p
 
Just remember encryption is only as good as the strength of the password you use.. for instance is software avaliable that will break a simple six didgit windows or zip/rar password in a few mins..

Always ensure that you use letters, numbers and special characters and that the password is a decent length... easy way to do this is to get yourself a word you can easily remember..

as an example Confusion.. with numbers, a house number for instance..

c0nfu$|n39

would also suggest that you use different passwords to websites etc... for instance using the first letters of the website on a standard password... so for say google mail you could take the above password and change it to goc0nfu$|n39 and hotmail would be hoc0nfu$|n39..
 
Last edited:
Ice Rich said:
Thanks very much for reply :)

I have herd of these pre-encrypted pen drives, can you tell me what the difference is between a device like yours and a normal pen drive with an application installed (like Trucrypt?)

Also, is the data you transfer to you key automatically encrypted?
Are you asked for a password each time you access it?

Kind regards,
Click to expand...

I cannot give you much advice as to Trucrypt as I have never used it, though as for the methods behind the other ones, SanDisk will ask you to type in a password as soon as you stick the device in, without the password the only thing you can do with it is to format the drive and then create a new password, once you have typed in the password it sits like a normal pen drive you can drag and drop files into it etc. The DataTraveller is much the same you need a password to access all the files contained on the partition though from recollection you cannot make the whole drive encrypted and it will not force you to enter a password when you plug it in.

As far as I am aware the encryption sits on the whole drive so as soon as you move anything to the device that file is encrypted as well, though don't quote me on that.
 
IceShock said:
ill let ya into a way i keep stuff safe

iv got a folder called A

inside that got one called A B C D E F

inside each one of them got one called A B C D E F,

and it just multiplys on and on inside each folder totalling 1000 folders, and only one combination of a word iv made from going through them for example,

A then C then F then D then B then B then A or so on, and iv made a 12 letter word

then at the end of the path is all my hidden stuff ;)



(thats guessing that people are tough enough to get through my password on my windows user account in general, only 1 account on my pc, and thats guessing there too retarded to press the search button inside the foldr)
Click to expand...

OMG... That's a stupid way of protecting your important files. You would only have to do a recursive search on the top folder and search for all files (*.*) and it would list all the files and which folders they are in, in the results pane....
 
Pneumonic said:
Just remember encryption is only as good as the strength of the password you use.. for instance is software avaliable that will break a simple six didgit windows or zip/rar password in a few mins..

Always ensure that you use letters, numbers and special characters and that the password is a decent length... easy way to do this is to get yourself a word you can easily remember..

as an example Confusion.. with numbers, a house number for instance..

c0nfu$|n39

would also suggest that you use different passwords to websites etc... for instance using the first letters of the website on a standard password... so for say google mail you could take the above password and change it to goc0nfu$|n39 and hotmail would be hoc0nfu$|n39..
Click to expand...

Daveangle said:
I cannot give you much advice as to Trucrypt as I have never used it, though as for the methods behind the other ones, SanDisk will ask you to type in a password as soon as you stick the device in, without the password the only thing you can do with it is to format the drive and then create a new password, once you have typed in the password it sits like a normal pen drive you can drag and drop files into it etc. The DataTraveller is much the same you need a password to access all the files contained on the partition though from recollection you cannot make the whole drive encrypted and it will not force you to enter a password when you plug it in.

As far as I am aware the encryption sits on the whole drive so as soon as you move anything to the device that file is encrypted as well, though don't quote me on that.
Click to expand...


Thanks for advice guys, much appreciated.

I am going the USB Pen route, going to look at the models available now.
 
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