My solution has been to not worry about encrypting backups and images. No one has physical access to my PC but me. Anything on my computer that is at all sensitive is either individually encrypted or added to an encrypted file/folder using WinZip and a 256-bit AES with a 12-random-digit/character/symbol password, which allows a "comment" that I use to identify the password (p:9 or p:3 telling me which of my passwords was used, but giving no info to anyone else since it is just a number identifying a password on a list).
I don't need to encrypt or password image or backup files because anything sensitive is already encrypted with a password "hint" that means absolutely nothing to anyone but me. Even if someone broke into my computer, there is nothing they can access that would compromise anything that is significant to me. Things I use frequently use a very strong random-char/digit/symbol password that I have memorized with my fingers (muscle memory) so it takes no thought. It has worked well for the past five years.
This is in addition to hardware and software firewalls (incoming and outgoing), , anti-virus, webpage pre-scanner, spyware and adware protection, and disabling certain ports & Windows functions (messenger, dcom, update-on-demand, scheduler, etc.). Plus, I don't download "freebies," visit questionable websites, or open questionable emails, and I turn off my modem when I'm not at my PC.
AnnaSummers
----- Original Message -----
From: Richard Glazier
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wednesday, November 02, 2005 7:35 AM
Subject: [PCBUILD] Images & Passwords for them: Was Re: Windows Training
I did not want to "steal the thread", so I started this side subject.
They started mentioning back-ups, etc.
To me (from personal preference) that means either a
Norton "Ghost Image" or an "Acronis TrueImage" file(s)...
I don't even remember if Ghost supports passwords, but Acronis
allows password protecting their Image files. You even need
the password to verify the Image Integrity.
My real question is: How secure is that password?
Are there any utilities that will easily break those passwords?
Not dictionary attacks, etc... Something that goes in and "gets"
the password...
I would be interested it making secure back-ups for people
with the understanding that ONLY they could get into them,
and to be able to say that with a straight face, and for all of us
to be able to rely on that as being correct...
I am not interested in "finding" one of those utililities, just knowing
if they exist or not.
I do not think the actual software vendor is the "best" place to
ask this question, since they might say it is "perfectly secure" <grin>
TIA, Rick Glazier
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