Anyone use super file encryption?
 

I have some very important files i need to encrypt. I am just am scared of losing them as I am new to encryption and don't know what I am doing. I am using super file encryption? Can I put my faith in them knowing that I can decrypt down the road without issues?

TrueCrypt :) all the way.

Use it everywhere.

What happens mkx if the file that is encrypted gets corrupted ?

.

No, but I've used fairly decent file encryption.

thats my biggest concern. how likely is this to happen?

I've used TrueCrypt for years now. On my portal hard drive, my usb stick, and my all my scanned documents on my notebook. Never had a problem.

Mind you, having the files in these "files" makes it super easy to back em up :)

It depends on the media its on... for example if you burn a cd or dvd it could last for up to 5 years on the norm... This is not the same as pressed cds and dvds that that music and movie companies/producers use... they have a longer life span...

Now harddrives can die at any time... it just happens... however the normal life span of a harddrive is around 3-5 years... but this does not mean that the data on it will not be corrupted by the os or the hardware...

Pendrives from what I've heard last for a few years of normal usage...

Hope this helps,

Thanks that helps a lot. Would backing it up to a second hard drive solve that problem? That way unless both drives fail at the same time, you'll be good to go :) ?

A raid setup would help you if your doing it for business reasons, however raid will slow down your computer if it is being used at home for entertainment reasons.

Perhaps do a daily backup to cd/dvd...

or

rar your file and email such to yourself...

I do this to transfer files to my server, just because I don't as of yet have setup a ftp server... if you do upload your files to lets say to Gmail an easy way to do this simple backup is to use Mozilla Thunderbird (its free) just make sure your rar and or zip file has a password on it...

Hope this helps you out mkx,

Make a work copy for your computer, plus two backup copies stored in two different locations, preferribly at least several miles apart on two different types / brands of media (ie. if using DVDs for backup, use one from brand A and another from brand B).

Always leave at least one backup off-site at all times - never overwrite all backups at the same time when updating backups.

Though sometimes you want the data to be gone ... be aware that whenever you decrypt the file, traces of it will be likely be left behind, such as in temp / swap files, unallocated areas on HD, mapped out areas on the HD, etc.

If the encryption is intended to simply keep curious casual users (staff, family, friends, etc) from accessing the data, then the traces left behind issue is likely only a minimal concern, if any.

Ron

Wow... $240 just to get in the door on that stuff... at that price, that data better be saving lives :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truecrypt

It simply rocks. So, yea.

couldn't agree more :thumbsup

great, giving truecrypt a try, so basically the main thing to do is keep the single file I am storing everything into right? that holds all the information, password, etc, so if i switch computers or whatnot, i just backup the file, redownload truecrypt, and mount the file to a drive? sounds good to me :)

Getting used to truecrypt. Question, can I capture video directly into the encrypted drive? Or would that f things up?

Ok, I think I figured out the answers to my other questions but I guess this one is the most important one. I encrypted an external harddrive and am able to mount it and add files to the new mount without a problem, but when the drive is connected but not mounted through truecrypt and I try clicking it, a message saying that the drive has not been formatted appears. This may not be good, should I format it? Will it erase all my encrypted data or is would it act more like a decoy? Hope someone can help.

You need to have TC running anywhere you use it if you encrypt the whole drive. I wouldn't save video streams to it directly, either.

IMHO.... use any software that uses blowfish.... set it at 448 bits

Why do you have to be running TC if you mount the drive? I have been saving video streams the past couple days with no problem, I figure its a new drive of its own until I dismount it and thats when it becomes encrypted / inaccessable. So far so good. But when I don't mount the drive and double click it, a message asking me to format it appears, thats the only issue. But i think I solved it by creating a new partitian and removing the drive letter from the encrypted partitian.

Do you have a RAID (mirroring) setup?

In that case you can use TrueCrypt/BestCrypt/whatever and make sure the container file gets stored in two locations simultaneously.. :thumbsup