File Encryption

[reversing_drive 0]

What is it good for?

What do you guys use it for (Win2K)?

Do you encrypt the entire C:\ Drive or selected files.

 

What does it protect from? Hackers, viruses, unorthorised access from P2P programs, spyware?

 

Is there a legitamate use of file encryption for the home user?

 

Can those files be accessed if disk has to be coupled as a slave drive to another Win2K Box?

 

Cheers,

Feedback much appreciated

[Davros 0]

Only the user who encrypts the files or folders can view or change them, as well as the Administrator. If the disk is put into another computer as a slave drive, the files can't be accessed. It is good to encrypt confidential documents and such. You shouldn't encrypt your whole hard drive, just folders with data you wish to protect. It keeps other users from accessing your files.

There's more details, but that's the basics.

[Scrimbo 0]

EFS (Encrypting File System) also requires that you be using NTFS, BTW.

 

Read more here:

 

Step-by-Step Guide to Encrypting File System (EFS)

 

--Scrimbo

[DosFreak 2]

Encrypted files are still able to be attacked by viruses. Spyware doesn't matter since simple keytrap programs can monitor your passwords. If your password security is weak then of course the files will be lost. You should encrypt 'em and store 'em off system if they NEED to be encrypted. Only encrypt what NEEDS to be encrypted not every little thing.

[Nemesis 1]

reversing_drive,

 

EFS is as only as good as your physical security.

 

As Davros pointed out, the local Administrator can decrypt your files, so you could take the hard-disk out of your computer place it into another computer and have the local Administrator of that computer decrypt your files.

 

For the home user, thats no big deal, for a business, they have to think of how to physically secure the computer.