Encryption

CaNsA · Super Spammer Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Karma :

I have a 300gig external usb, portable hdd.

I need to encrypt it in a way that i can plug it into any other computer, enter the "key" and use it.

no software can be installed on the other computers.

Ideas?

cheers

Phoenix · Twisted Firestarter Joined: 01 Aug 2002 Karma :

Depends what the use is and what it is you want to encrypt, there's probably software specifically for it. You could just turn the stuff into an encrypted self ectracting zip archive with a password, set the compression level to zero and it'll be nearly as quick as a straight file copy.

Burnside · Spanner Monkey Joined: 29 Sep 2007 Karma :

We use Utimaco Safeguard and Becrypt on USB hard drives at work cos they're FIPS-42 certified, you only need to input one password when the device is plugged in, nothing needs to be installed on the PC.

Truecrypt is open source with AES 256bit certification but I've never used it, not sure how straightforward it would be for removable devices. But hey, its free Smile

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temeluchus · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Oct 2008 Karma :

Aka Matt · Trackday Trickster Joined: 15 Feb 2008 Karma :

I found truecrypt very straight forward to use and it also offers a variety of different encryption types too depending on the level of security you are after.
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CaNsA · Super Spammer Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Karma :

Cheers for the replies peeps.

@ Phoenix

Using compression software wont work as no software can be installed/ran on the other computers.
And Winzip/Winrar passwords are not secure.

@ hollyj

Been checking out the software u mentioned, can i have a copy Wink

I have been playing with truecrypt, its quite fiddly. Hopefully i have sussed it. I will have to wait until monday to test it out in work. I wounder how the NHS network will respond to it.

@ Temeluchus

Cant trust a Nietzschean......

@ Evil Dude UK

Simple encryption has been easy to set up. But a portable, automount, enter password and access system has been a complete arse to config.

tsmith · Traffic Copper Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Karma :

For software solutions, check out Truecrypt, PGP Disk or Drivecrypt

Hardware solutions check out https://www.enovatech.net/solutions.htm

Phoenix · Twisted Firestarter Joined: 01 Aug 2002 Karma :

CaNsA · Super Spammer Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Karma :

Cheers Tom,

Ill give them a go. the "on the fly" feature is what im after.

Phoenix · Twisted Firestarter Joined: 01 Aug 2002 Karma :

Not in self extracting archives they don't, password first, then extraction Rolling Eyes

And "yeah, well done like", well I did say in the very first post that you haven't said what exactly you are planning to do so I assumed it was files you needed access to, not to work off the hard drive and save more to it, for all I know it's just to read files from another computer.

You know best, you figure it out.