Windows Vista and encrypt sensitive files

Hi,

I have a computer with very sensitiv information, soo I need some help
to ensure that my files a secure.

All of my important files are located under c:\users\username\Documents
Filsystem is ntfs and 32 bit windows Vista

I want to prevent access to these files from other users who
- Can hack my windows password
- Boot up with ubuntu to access files on the disk
- can take my disk and connect to another computer as secondary drive
and ectract files.

Is there a way in windows i can use to encrypt my files soo nobody can
read these?

Thanks in advance
http://www.hd720i.com

Rajoo Sharma wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I have a computer with very sensitiv information, soo I need some help
> to ensure that my files a secure.
>
> All of my important files are located under c:\users\username\Documents
> Filsystem is ntfs and 32 bit windows Vista
>
> I want to prevent access to these files from other users who
> - Can hack my windows password
> - Boot up with ubuntu to access files on the disk
> - can take my disk and connect to another computer as secondary drive
> and ectract files.
>
> Is there a way in windows i can use to encrypt my files soo nobody can
> read these?

You forgot to tell us what version of Vista you have. Home versions do not
have the native EFS encryption. Besides, EFS is very tricksy and if you do
not follow all best practices and caution you can lose all your data. You
can zip your files and assign a password to the zipped archive. Or you can
look into using True Crypt (free).

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

On Sat, 08 Aug 2009 19:28:13 +0200, Rajoo Sharma <>
wrote:

>Hi,
>
>I have a computer with very sensitiv information, soo I need some help
>to ensure that my files a secure.
>
>All of my important files are located under c:\users\username\Documents
>Filsystem is ntfs and 32 bit windows Vista
>
>I want to prevent access to these files from other users who
> - Can hack my windows password
> - Boot up with ubuntu to access files on the disk
> - can take my disk and connect to another computer as secondary drive
>and ectract files.
>
>Is there a way in windows i can use to encrypt my files soo nobody can
>read these?
>
>Thanks in advance
>http://www.hd720i.com

Put them onto an external usb drive .

"Rajoo Sharma" <> wrote:

> I have a computer with very sensitiv information, soo I need some help to
> ensure that my files a secure.
>
> All of my important files are located under c:\users\username\Documents
> Filsystem is ntfs and 32 bit windows Vista
>
> I want to prevent access to these files from other users who
> - Can hack my windows password
> - Boot up with ubuntu to access files on the disk
> - can take my disk and connect to another computer as secondary drive and
> ectract files.
>
> Is there a way in windows i can use to encrypt my files soo nobody can
> read these?

Not directly answering your questions (see some of the other responses to
your question) - but assuming that the files in question do not represent
something illegal, make certain that there is a way that people who need to
see them are able to do so if you die or are incapacitated. (Your employer
if these are business files; your family if they're personal.)

For that matter, also be careful to ensure that *you* can get in if you
forget the password - stay away from the files for a few months and you'll
be wondering if you used "MySecre!Pa$$w0rd" - or was it "mYsECRE|Pas$wOrd"?
If whatever encryption tool you use has a lockout after some number of
failed attempts (and thus protects against brute-force attacks) you'll need
to remember just how to use a secondary login.

And answer this question (to yourself, not the newsgroup): just how much
protection is *really* needed for the files? You can build a complex,
cover-all-bases security blanket for the files, but if they're not that
valuable, why bother? One mantra in the security arena is that you protect
data to the point that it costs an attacker more to gain access to the data
than it is worth. For some data, that figure might be in the $billions; for
others it might be the cost of an hour or so hacking at the interface. It's
your call.

Joe Morris

"Joe Morris" <> wrote:

>And answer this question (to yourself, not the newsgroup): just how much
>protection is *really* needed for the files? You can build a complex,
>cover-all-bases security blanket for the files, but if they're not that
>valuable, why bother?

What if they're child porn?

Malke wrote:
> Rajoo Sharma wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have a computer with very sensitiv information, soo I need some help
>> to ensure that my files a secure.
>>
>> All of my important files are located under c:\users\username\Documents
>> Filsystem is ntfs and 32 bit windows Vista
>>
>> I want to prevent access to these files from other users who
>> - Can hack my windows password
>> - Boot up with ubuntu to access files on the disk
>> - can take my disk and connect to another computer as secondary drive
>> and ectract files.
>>
>> Is there a way in windows i can use to encrypt my files soo nobody can
>> read these?
>
> You forgot to tell us what version of Vista you have. Home versions do not
> have the native EFS encryption. Besides, EFS is very tricksy and if you do
> not follow all best practices and caution you can lose all your data. You
> can zip your files and assign a password to the zipped archive. Or you can
> look into using True Crypt (free).
>
> Malke

I think zip files can be to much work, but on the other hand it seems
like true crypt will do the trick

Thanks malke!

Jim wrote:
> On Sat, 08 Aug 2009 19:28:13 +0200, Rajoo Sharma <>
> wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have a computer with very sensitiv information, soo I need some help
>> to ensure that my files a secure.
>>
>> All of my important files are located under c:\users\username\Documents
>> Filsystem is ntfs and 32 bit windows Vista
>>
>> I want to prevent access to these files from other users who
>> - Can hack my windows password
>> - Boot up with ubuntu to access files on the disk
>> - can take my disk and connect to another computer as secondary drive
>> and ectract files.
>>
>> Is there a way in windows i can use to encrypt my files soo nobody can
>> read these?
>>
>> Thanks in advance
>> http://www.hd720i.com
>
> Put them onto an external usb drive .

How will putting files on external zip drive protect the files besides
that I can take with me..."or hide it"

Joe Morris wrote:
> "Rajoo Sharma" <> wrote:
>
>> I have a computer with very sensitiv information, soo I need some help to
>> ensure that my files a secure.
>>
>> All of my important files are located under c:\users\username\Documents
>> Filsystem is ntfs and 32 bit windows Vista
>>
>> I want to prevent access to these files from other users who
>> - Can hack my windows password
>> - Boot up with ubuntu to access files on the disk
>> - can take my disk and connect to another computer as secondary drive and
>> ectract files.
>>
>> Is there a way in windows i can use to encrypt my files soo nobody can
>> read these?
>
> Not directly answering your questions (see some of the other responses to
> your question) - but assuming that the files in question do not represent
> something illegal, make certain that there is a way that people who need to
> see them are able to do so if you die or are incapacitated. (Your employer
> if these are business files; your family if they're personal.)
>
> For that matter, also be careful to ensure that *you* can get in if you
> forget the password - stay away from the files for a few months and you'll
> be wondering if you used "MySecre!Pa$$w0rd" - or was it "mYsECRE|Pas$wOrd"?
> If whatever encryption tool you use has a lockout after some number of
> failed attempts (and thus protects against brute-force attacks) you'll need
> to remember just how to use a secondary login.
>
> And answer this question (to yourself, not the newsgroup): just how much
> protection is *really* needed for the files? You can build a complex,
> cover-all-bases security blanket for the files, but if they're not that
> valuable, why bother? One mantra in the security arena is that you protect
> data to the point that it costs an attacker more to gain access to the data
> than it is worth. For some data, that figure might be in the $billions; for
> others it might be the cost of an hour or so hacking at the interface. It's
> your call.
>
> Joe Morris
>
>

Thank for your response. First of all the files are not illegal at all.
I just want these files to be protected. I must not be too protected as
you have described above, but protected good enough. I think the option
malke described seems to be good. Please let me know if you have som
other ideas.

On Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:08:48 +0200, Rajoo Sharma wrote:

> Joe Morris wrote:
>> "Rajoo Sharma" <> wrote:
>>
>>> I have a computer with very sensitiv information, soo I need some help to
>>> ensure that my files a secure.
>>>
>>> All of my important files are located under c:\users\username\Documents
>>> Filsystem is ntfs and 32 bit windows Vista
>>>
>>> I want to prevent access to these files from other users who
>>> - Can hack my windows password
>>> - Boot up with ubuntu to access files on the disk
>>> - can take my disk and connect to another computer as secondary drive and
>>> ectract files.
>>>
>>> Is there a way in windows i can use to encrypt my files soo nobody can
>>> read these?
>>
>> Not directly answering your questions (see some of the other responses to
>> your question) - but assuming that the files in question do not represent
>> something illegal, make certain that there is a way that people who need to
>> see them are able to do so if you die or are incapacitated. (Your employer
>> if these are business files; your family if they're personal.)
>>
>> For that matter, also be careful to ensure that *you* can get in if you
>> forget the password - stay away from the files for a few months and you'll
>> be wondering if you used "MySecre!Pa$$w0rd" - or was it "mYsECRE|Pas$wOrd"?
>> If whatever encryption tool you use has a lockout after some number of
>> failed attempts (and thus protects against brute-force attacks) you'll need
>> to remember just how to use a secondary login.
>>
>> And answer this question (to yourself, not the newsgroup): just how much
>> protection is *really* needed for the files? You can build a complex,
>> cover-all-bases security blanket for the files, but if they're not that
>> valuable, why bother? One mantra in the security arena is that you protect
>> data to the point that it costs an attacker more to gain access to the data
>> than it is worth. For some data, that figure might be in the $billions; for
>> others it might be the cost of an hour or so hacking at the interface. It's
>> your call.
>>
>> Joe Morris
>>
>>
>
> Thank for your response. First of all the files are not illegal at all.
> I just want these files to be protected. I must not be too protected as
> you have described above, but protected good enough. I think the option
> malke described seems to be good. Please let me know if you have som
> other ideas.

I use TrueCrypt as well, and I recommend it. And so you don't forget it
ever, here's a secure password:

Sh1bB0leth

OK, that part is just a joke, but I'm serious about TrueCrypt.

--
Gene E. Bloch letters0x40blochg0x2Ecom

Gene E. Bloch wrote:
> On Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:08:48 +0200, Rajoo Sharma wrote:
>
>> Joe Morris wrote:
>>> "Rajoo Sharma" <> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I have a computer with very sensitiv information, soo I need some help to
>>>> ensure that my files a secure.
>>>>
>>>> All of my important files are located under c:\users\username\Documents
>>>> Filsystem is ntfs and 32 bit windows Vista
>>>>
>>>> I want to prevent access to these files from other users who
>>>> - Can hack my windows password
>>>> - Boot up with ubuntu to access files on the disk
>>>> - can take my disk and connect to another computer as secondary drive and
>>>> ectract files.
>>>>
>>>> Is there a way in windows i can use to encrypt my files soo nobody can
>>>> read these?
>>> Not directly answering your questions (see some of the other responses to
>>> your question) - but assuming that the files in question do not represent
>>> something illegal, make certain that there is a way that people who need to
>>> see them are able to do so if you die or are incapacitated. (Your employer
>>> if these are business files; your family if they're personal.)
>>>
>>> For that matter, also be careful to ensure that *you* can get in if you
>>> forget the password - stay away from the files for a few months and you'll
>>> be wondering if you used "MySecre!Pa$$w0rd" - or was it "mYsECRE|Pas$wOrd"?
>>> If whatever encryption tool you use has a lockout after some number of
>>> failed attempts (and thus protects against brute-force attacks) you'll need
>>> to remember just how to use a secondary login.
>>>
>>> And answer this question (to yourself, not the newsgroup): just how much
>>> protection is *really* needed for the files? You can build a complex,
>>> cover-all-bases security blanket for the files, but if they're not that
>>> valuable, why bother? One mantra in the security arena is that you protect
>>> data to the point that it costs an attacker more to gain access to the data
>>> than it is worth. For some data, that figure might be in the $billions; for
>>> others it might be the cost of an hour or so hacking at the interface. It's
>>> your call.
>>>
>>> Joe Morris
>>>
>>>
>> Thank for your response. First of all the files are not illegal at all.
>> I just want these files to be protected. I must not be too protected as
>> you have described above, but protected good enough. I think the option
>> malke described seems to be good. Please let me know if you have som
>> other ideas.
>
> I use TrueCrypt as well, and I recommend it. And so you don't forget it
> ever, here's a secure password:
>
> Sh1bB0leth
>
> OK, that part is just a joke, but I'm serious about TrueCrypt.
>
Then true crypt it is

http://www.hd720i.com/Windows-Vista-...es-328240.aspx