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Anonymous #1
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Need a Truecrypt Friendly Laptop
#18355719 - 06/01/13 10:36 PM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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So my old laptop is fried and repairs would cost more than it's worth
This old laptop would go incredibly slow whenever I used Truecrypt's full disk encryption on it
I tried full disk encryption several times after reformat, no matter what it would fuck up under such levels of encryption
So I need a decent laptop that will take minimal performance losses when fully encrypted
Do any of you encrypt your laptops?
Will Truecrypt still hold up to a government computer trying to break in following a seizure of the laptop?
I prefer windows 7 but am willing to work with windows 8 given that it isn't too different
I don't play games or anything, I simply use the shroomery and other sites like it, watch movies and television, download files from 1-9GB, and so on
I am hoping for something that runs quickly, is easy to use, and is built to last
It doesn't have to be a newer model or anything so long as it fits the criteria
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Shroomism
Space Travellin



Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension
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Re: Need a Truecrypt Friendly Laptop [Re: Anonymous #1] 2
#18356570 - 06/02/13 02:45 AM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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Get one with an SSD.
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Alan Rockefeller
Mycologist

Registered: 03/10/07
Posts: 48,392
Last seen: 2 days, 23 hours
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Re: Need a Truecrypt Friendly Laptop [Re: Anonymous #1]
#18357766 - 06/02/13 10:45 AM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Anonymous said: Do any of you encrypt your laptops?
Always. It's super easy with the Debian Linux installer, and doesn't cause a noticable drop in performance.
Quote:
Will Truecrypt still hold up to a government computer trying to break in following a seizure of the laptop?
Yes, if your pass phrase is long enough.
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Anonymous #1
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I read up a bit on SSD's but am curious as to why you are suggesting it. Is it for security purposes or is it a general good idea
I like the specs but it does cost more
Do you have any specific laptops or category of laptops you would recommend. I am not very good with computer and want to make sure the type I buy will work well for my purposes
Would a phrase of 28 or so characters be powerful enough Mr. Rockefeller?
Thank you both
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Anonymous #2
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Re: Need a Truecrypt Friendly Laptop [Re: Anonymous #1]
#18360582 - 06/02/13 11:32 PM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Anonymous said: I read up a bit on SSD's but am curious as to why you are suggesting it. Is it for security purposes or is it a general good idea
I like the specs but it does cost more
Do you have any specific laptops or category of laptops you would recommend. I am not very good with computer and want to make sure the type I buy will work well for my purposes
Would a phrase of 28 or so characters be powerful enough Mr. Rockefeller?
Thank you both
My guess about the advise to get a SSDis faster read write speeds so less of a 'lag' with on the fly encryption/decryption. Correct me if this wasn't your logic.
Passwords no matter the length can be vulnerable to sophisticated dictionary attacks. For that reason you should consider the use of a Caesar cipher with your passphrase as well as a series of random characters if you can remember them. Eighty or a hundred characters should make a very secure passphrase so long as its in a caesar cipher with some random characters included. For random characters just pick a paperback novel and then pick your favorite number and go to that page. Every third letter with each one alternatively capital and lower case is good. Or be creative. Thats just an idea to get you brainstorming.
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Anonymous #1
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Re: Need a Truecrypt Friendly Laptop [Re: Anonymous #2]
#18365346 - 06/03/13 11:15 PM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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whelp, guess I better go create a truecrypt account
they surely must have what I seek
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confusion
ProfessionalNovice



Registered: 10/28/06
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Re: Need a Truecrypt Friendly Laptop [Re: Anonymous #1]
#18379603 - 06/06/13 07:22 PM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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An SSD is super fast, but be sure to encrypt the drive as soon as you get it, or there is potential for unencrypted write space to reveal vulnerable information if forensics ever got it.
I prefer a regular HDD, because it does not have this flaw of SSDs.
As Alan mentioned Debian is good for encryption, and Ubuntu and Linux Mint also offer full disk encryption on install now. Be sure to disable Amazon searching in Ubuntu if you use it.
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Anonymous #1
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Re: Need a Truecrypt Friendly Laptop [Re: confusion]
#18385257 - 06/07/13 09:15 PM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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Forgot truecrypt requires a .edu or otherwise paid for email account to post
And since I am no longer a student I'm back to the drawing board
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Alan Rockefeller
Mycologist

Registered: 03/10/07
Posts: 48,392
Last seen: 2 days, 23 hours
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Re: Need a Truecrypt Friendly Laptop [Re: Anonymous #1]
#18387987 - 06/08/13 02:13 PM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Anonymous said: Forgot truecrypt requires a .edu or otherwise paid for email account to post
And since I am no longer a student I'm back to the drawing board
Why do you need to post?
Just use it....or use linux.
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Anonymous #1
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I have been using the search function over on truecrypt.org and have yet to find any posts discussing win7 computers that can be fully encrypted
My last laptop cost around $700 and was not compatible with truecrypt full disk encryption
I don't want to pay for another laptop only to find it won't work for my purposes
I simply need the name of a good windows 7 laptop that will work
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Brave_Raven
Working On It


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Re: Need a Truecrypt Friendly Laptop [Re: Anonymous #1]
#18395341 - 06/10/13 12:58 AM (10 years, 11 months ago) |
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Go with Linux it looks intimdating but you can find info for everything you need to do on ubuntu forums.
-------------------- We are the ones we have been waiting for. -Hopi Proverb
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Anonymous #1
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Re: Need a Truecrypt Friendly Laptop [Re: Brave_Raven]
#18430195 - 06/16/13 11:12 PM (10 years, 10 months ago) |
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I would still rather just encrypt a win7 system out of convenience
I probably shouldn't ask since it most likely will make me less likely to get the answer to the first question but:
What advantages does linux have over windows?
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Alan Rockefeller
Mycologist

Registered: 03/10/07
Posts: 48,392
Last seen: 2 days, 23 hours
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Re: Need a Truecrypt Friendly Laptop [Re: Anonymous #1]
#18430341 - 06/16/13 11:53 PM (10 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
Anonymous said: What advantages does linux have over windows?
You have a lot more control over what it is doing. Windows is very chatty and sends all kinds of info back to microsoft and various people. With Linux, it is easy to let it only communicate in the ways that you intend.
Also with Linux you don't need to mess with third party encryption, the encryption is built into the OS.
And it is open source and free, so the code can be audited for NSA backdoors, and you don't have to buy it from Microsoft.
If Windows breaks you often have to just reinstall, if Linux breaks you can go in and fix the problem. Windows is like a black box, you can't see into it very well, and you just have to have faith that it's doing the right thing. And since it's windows, it's often doing the wrong thing...
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Shroomism
Space Travellin



Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension
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LoL. Funny because it's true. However, Win 7 is the most stable and reliable OS MS has produced to date IMO. With the right tweaks and disabling of services and whatnot it can be pretty lean and mean.
I usually would put it like this: Windows for Gaming Linux for max security / tinkering
Linux is absolutely amazing, but not without its drawbacks for the average person. For someone not so computer savvy it might not be the best choice.. because let's be honest it's a "Programmer and Hacker" OS, not really meant for the masses, although some distros are quite noob-friendly.
Linux you absolutely have more control over everything, it's by far the most powerful in terms of tools available and encryption. Everything open source is great.
Go dual-boot and have the best of both worlds. You can do full disc encryption.
OP if you want recommendations for laptops I'd check out Lenovo
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Alan Rockefeller
Mycologist

Registered: 03/10/07
Posts: 48,392
Last seen: 2 days, 23 hours
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Re: Need a Truecrypt Friendly Laptop [Re: Shroomism]
#18430656 - 06/17/13 02:39 AM (10 years, 10 months ago) |
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Quote:
Az0th said: OP if you want recommendations for laptops I'd check out Lenovo
Those are my favorite. But they are really expensive.
Used ones work out well.
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Shroomism
Space Travellin



Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension
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They are expensive because they are worth it They usually have the best / highest end hardware of any current laptops. But yeah used is a good route as well. Toshiba makes some good ones also. But Lenovo would be my first pick.
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t00th
something terrible

Registered: 12/03/07
Posts: 3,946
Loc: the dirty dirty
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I just bought a lenovo u300s about a year ago. It was an amazing computer. Until I dropped it. However I bought the accidental insurance which was like an additional 250$ or some shit, which clearly covered my drop. Anyway, after dealing with their atrocious customer service I sold it as quick as possible and bought a mac, Their customer service was so bad that for the first time in my life I bought a mac, and it was the best computer related decision I have ever made. I've ran linux, and had many nice PCs over the years. However none of them work as well as my mac. It's just seamless and fluid and easy to use.
Back to lenovo's customer service though. Awful. Multiple times I was hung up on when I asked to speak to a manager, they 'couldn't find' my accidental warranty until I had to email them my receipt. Even then every time I called I had to re email the receipt because they did not keep notes on the file. Part of the warranty is that they were supposed to send someone to your house to fix it, so you don't have to be without it, which I got because I am a student and can not afford to be without my laptop. Anyway, they did not honor that and made me send it in, where I was without my laptop for 2+ weeks during a semester. And this is only what Im remembering high, on heroin and cocaine and 5am. It was an awful experience and I would never buy a Lenovo ever again because of that awful experience.
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Edited by t00th (06/17/13 03:52 AM)
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Shroomism
Space Travellin



Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension
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Re: Need a Truecrypt Friendly Laptop [Re: t00th]
#18430762 - 06/17/13 03:49 AM (10 years, 10 months ago) |
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Sounds like a case of Pebkac to me? Apple is not going to warranty it period if you drop your mac and cause physical damage.
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t00th
something terrible

Registered: 12/03/07
Posts: 3,946
Loc: the dirty dirty
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Re: Need a Truecrypt Friendly Laptop [Re: Shroomism]
#18430776 - 06/17/13 03:58 AM (10 years, 10 months ago) |
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No, but I know that going in to it.
I had accidental on my iPad, and used it both times. Both times I brought it in, no questions were asked and 15 minutes later I was walking out with a brand new iPad.
I'm not trying to start a big debate, it's just that customer service is a huge part of a business to me as a consumer. Lenovo really failed in that department, where Apple on the other hand passes with flying colors.
Obviously take this with a grain of salt, as it is just one persons experience. Nonetheless, I wanted to share it.
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Anonymous #1
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Re: Need a Truecrypt Friendly Laptop [Re: t00th]
#18432967 - 06/17/13 05:15 PM (10 years, 10 months ago) |
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Good to see so many replies
I'm neither hacker nor programmer, just a man with a general interest in security
The main interest is in drug research, keeping files and pictures safe as well as any traces tor might have left behind from drug based websites
The lenovo computers look great but, uhh, I've little need for such hardware
I have always loved toshiba but considering I couldn't encrypt mine I think I will look elsewhere
Thanks all
Edited by Anonymous (06/17/13 05:16 PM)
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Shroomism
Space Travellin



Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension
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Re: Need a Truecrypt Friendly Laptop [Re: Anonymous #1]
#18433188 - 06/17/13 06:10 PM (10 years, 10 months ago) |
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If you couldn't encrypt yours.. that has nothing to do with the brand. It was most likely a dying/failing hard drive or something like that. Based on what you said in your OP, it was most likely hardware failing. Toshiba makes really good laptops. I have one from over 7 years ago still going strong, has taken tons of abuse. Lenovo is my first pick though, they have the highest quality. Any hardware can potentially fail before its time, doesn't matter who it's from.. but some do tend to use higher quality components. For laptop manufacturers Lenovo, Toshiba and Sony are my gotos in that order.
Truecrypt should work on any Hard Drive Disk or SSD. Brand has nothing to do with it, they all mostly use the same OEM for parts anyway. (with some exceptions).
If you want my recommendation, I would do two things: 1. Windows on the main drive, Truecrypt the entire drive, then go through some Black Viper Win 7 tweaks to make it a bit more secure. Get a decent free AV like Avast or manage to get Kasperkey or Nod32. Get firefox+noscript+adblock+ghostery. Get TOR. A few other tweaks and you are solid. If you are familiar with Windows already, that would be my recommendation. You can use Tor or whatever, but I would use that for your "main" OS.
2. Then you can install a version of Linux - Tails ( https://tails.boum.org/ ), put that on a USB drive, and boot to that whenever you want to do anything shady. All internet activity is forced through the TOR network, and when you log off/remove your USB key it leaves no traces on the system or key. You can set it to have "persistant" hard drive usage so you can store files, but that's a little less secure. Either way the Linux method is by default 5x more secure than Windows. And the Live version comes preinstalled with everything you need pretty much, drivers, video/photo editing, word processing, tor, etc.. all open source.
I'd recommend doing something like that, having Windows on your HDD.. and then putting a "Live" bootable version of Linux on a thumb drive or something. That way you can tinker around with Linux whenever you want. OR you could hard install Linux to the drive and do a Dual Boot configuration, but that would require formatting it properly first.
It's best to do it that way, if you don't want to leave a 'trail'. Have a fake OS, you can do that with Truecrypt too.
Linux is good to learn, especially if you have interest in security. So just get started and play around with it, that's the best way to learn. Can't go wrong with free.
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Anonymous #1
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Re: Need a Truecrypt Friendly Laptop [Re: Shroomism]
#18437493 - 06/18/13 03:02 PM (10 years, 10 months ago) |
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can do, thanks
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