12 replies to this topic

[elvenrunelord]

What would be the best program I could use to encrypt my hard drive? I'm getting to the point I have financial documents on my system that I don't want my roommate to see. We both run businesses out of our home and I don't want him having access to clients.

[bvaessen]

Truecrypt is convenient and free.

[morefood2001]

As an addition to programs that you can download and install to do this:

The windows NTFS file system does support encryption, however those options only come up when you are joined to a domain. Also windows vista ultimate natively supports file encryption without a domain now.

***The below can deny you access to your own files forever if you are not careful
Assuming your computer is connected to a domain: All you need to do is right click the folder, goto sharing and security, and explicitly allow permissions to the local windows system (NT Authority I believe), and your windows user account. Then check deny all to everyone, and this way only you and your local computer (so programs are able to access it for you) can read the file.

Remember: I have lost data this way when moving my hard drive after a reformat, so be careful! I do keep secured data backed up on dvds in a safe, so I didn't lose the data permanently, if you do this, I would recommend the same.

[bvaessen]

morefood2001 said:

***The below can deny you access to your own files forever if you are not careful

Those problems you don't have with Truecrypt. Especially for external disks or usb sticks, something like truecrypt comes in nicely. Works everywhere and never had any problems. And like with all important data: just make regular backups!

Launch-IT :: Home
Ben Vaessen :: Home

[morefood2001]

bvaessen said:

And like with all important data: just make regular backups!

Thanks for the tip about truecrypt. I will +rep you when I can figure out how :)

And I don't think the computer geeks can stress that enough lol

[tossy]

bvaessen said:

Truecrypt is convenient and free.

I agree with bvaessen, TrueCrypt is free open-source disk encryption software for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.

[marwex89]

Yez, TrueCrypt is fine, if you're still in doubt.. I use it mostly for my USB drives, but it's fine on HDs, too

[RNet]

I encrypted my hard drive about 3 years ago, had encrypted about 4 years of work.... and the programme I did it with sucked.... never got my data back... So it is really wroth going through that headache ? :rolleyes:

[morefood2001]

RNet said:

I encrypted my hard drive about 3 years ago, had encrypted about 4 years of work.... and the programme I did it with sucked.... never got my data back... So it is really wroth going through that headache ? :rolleyes:

In scenarios where only you need the data and its dangerous in some else's hands (aka military attack data, etc), encryption becomes very important.

[marwex89]

Does... p0rn.. count? :D
But, hey, after meeting (well, virtually) guys like MeTh0dz, who doesn't feel a bit paranoid...?

[MeTh0Dz]

Lol... Guys like me? lul

[marwex89]

lol :D