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Gumby
Fishnologist


Registered: 06/13/01
Posts: 26,656
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Password protecting external HD
#8743415 - 08/08/08 11:03 AM (15 years, 9 months ago) |
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I've done some research on this topic and it seems like the only solution I can come up with is some third party software that will either lock the drive/folders just with a password or it will encrypt the drive.
Questions:
1. First of all, do you pass-protect your external drives? How?
2. If I decided to go the encryption route, will encrypting my data make accessing it a lot slower?
3. If it's encrypted, will I need that third party software to view my data on another computer?
4. I use this drive most commonly on XP, 2000, Vista, 98 or OS X. It's gonna be a bitch getting software to work on all of those operating systems, isn't it?
5. Whats the chance that I will encrypt my data and be unable to decrypt it, thus losing all of my data?
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Gumby
Fishnologist


Registered: 06/13/01
Posts: 26,656
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Re: Password protecting external HD [Re: Gumby]
#8743545 - 08/08/08 11:30 AM (15 years, 9 months ago) |
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BTW guys, I know I've been making a lot of new posts in here lately. Just have a lot of questions pertaining to science and technology. If you're getting annoyed by all my posts, let me know and I'll try to reduce the volume
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RoosterCogburn
Fearless,one-eyed U.S.Marshall



Registered: 08/25/06
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Re: Password protecting external HD [Re: Gumby]
#8743573 - 08/08/08 11:35 AM (15 years, 9 months ago) |
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I never trusted any HD encryption crap...
I put all sensitive files on my IronKey and store in my safe. For quick access files, I have a second Iron Key plugged into the internal USB slot on the actual USB card... So it's inside the PC actually.
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Seuss
Error: divide byzero



Registered: 04/27/01
Posts: 23,480
Loc: Caribbean
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Re: Password protecting external HD [Re: RoosterCogburn]
#8743820 - 08/08/08 12:25 PM (15 years, 9 months ago) |
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> I never trusted any HD encryption crap...
But you trust a third party... funny, that.
I use an external hard drive that has a biometric sensor on it to unlock the drive. However, I don't trust third parties when it comes to encryption, thus I also use AES (opensource) to encrypt the file system on the drive. Even if the HDD third party has left a backdoor into the hardware, I feel comfortable that the opensource AES implementation is secure. For my really sensitive stuff, I add one more layer and encrypt the individual files with PGP using a 4096 bit key.
I like the biometric sensor because 'key scanners' and the like cannot get around it. Unfortunately, I don't trust it against the government, thus the opensource encryption on top of the secure drive.
-------------------- Just another spore in the wind.
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Newbie
User of semicolons.



Registered: 07/18/04
Posts: 24,721
Loc: SoCal
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Re: Password protecting external HD [Re: Gumby]
#8744568 - 08/08/08 02:36 PM (15 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Gumby said: BTW guys, I know I've been making a lot of new posts in here lately. Just have a lot of questions pertaining to science and technology. If you're getting annoyed by all my posts, let me know and I'll try to reduce the volume
That's funny you said that! I was jokingly gonna post something like, "You're hogging up all the Science and Technology forum!"
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iateshaggy
i haxor 360s



Registered: 05/20/05
Posts: 4,709
Loc: 612 Warf Avenue, next to....
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Re: Password protecting external HD [Re: Newbie]
#8744614 - 08/08/08 02:42 PM (15 years, 9 months ago) |
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seuss, can a biometric devise be by passed by busting the hdd out of the enclosure and putting in another enclosure or strait on the slave sot?
-------------------- You are a filipina sex goddess who wants to fuck me until I fall asleep, so then you can tickle my balls and see if the legend of my diamond filled nutsuck is true. I am a white man from costa rica, who smells like lime jello.
I can flash/jtag/repair 360's, pm for details.
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Newbie
User of semicolons.



Registered: 07/18/04
Posts: 24,721
Loc: SoCal
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Re: Password protecting external HD [Re: iateshaggy]
#8744626 - 08/08/08 02:43 PM (15 years, 9 months ago) |
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It's slave "slot". And don't call me Seuss.
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Seuss
Error: divide byzero



Registered: 04/27/01
Posts: 23,480
Loc: Caribbean
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Re: Password protecting external HD [Re: iateshaggy]
#8744913 - 08/08/08 03:55 PM (15 years, 9 months ago) |
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> seuss, can a biometric devise be by passed by busting the hdd out of the enclosure and putting in another enclosure or strait on the slave sot?
The one I have creates a hash (semi-unique serial number, more or less) from your finger print and uses that to decrypt a key that is saved on the drive. The key is then used to decrypt the data. If somebody can create the hash key, they can unlock the drive, even outside of the enclosure. I haven't really looked into it, but I assume the hash space could be exhausted fairly quickly via brute force. That is why I don't trust it alone. It will stop almost everybody, but not a determined government. Hence, adding the next layer, which requires a password that I type when I login.
-------------------- Just another spore in the wind.
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johnm214



Registered: 05/31/07
Posts: 17,582
Loc: Americas
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Re: Password protecting external HD [Re: Seuss]
#8744938 - 08/08/08 03:59 PM (15 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Seuss said: > I never trusted any HD encryption crap...
But you trust a third party... funny, that.
This seems to sum up Seuss' concerns pretty well re: third party security implementations.
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_region/breaking_news/2007/08/boy_10_gets_loc.html
Boy locks himself in an electronic safe at Sam's Club.
Parents freak out.
Store calls safe manufacturer.
Safe manufacturer says "oh, don't worry, we always have a programed code in their that we can use to open our safes" Tells store such and safe is opened.
While good for the boy, why the fuck would you buy a safe or anything that had a secret code you couldn't remove?
Great, you set your own password or combo, but the company has an extra one laying around that they or anyone else they decide can use.
No thanks
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iateshaggy
i haxor 360s



Registered: 05/20/05
Posts: 4,709
Loc: 612 Warf Avenue, next to....
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Re: Password protecting external HD [Re: johnm214]
#8745195 - 08/08/08 04:57 PM (15 years, 9 months ago) |
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in the event of a safe lock out, would u rather call your safe manufacturer for a master code, or pay a safe tech huge money to drill into your safe and destroy it beyond repair?
-------------------- You are a filipina sex goddess who wants to fuck me until I fall asleep, so then you can tickle my balls and see if the legend of my diamond filled nutsuck is true. I am a white man from costa rica, who smells like lime jello.
I can flash/jtag/repair 360's, pm for details.
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johnm214



Registered: 05/31/07
Posts: 17,582
Loc: Americas
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Re: Password protecting external HD [Re: iateshaggy]
#8745438 - 08/08/08 05:57 PM (15 years, 9 months ago) |
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The former, but that's a straw horse.
I didn't criticize the company's apparent practices because I want to be locked out, I criticized them because I don't want others, in general, to get in with an override code.
I don't want every sam's club employee and other stores plus the manufacturer to be able to get into my safe.
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zouden
Neuroscientist


Registered: 11/12/07
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Re: Password protecting external HD [Re: johnm214]
#8746188 - 08/08/08 08:35 PM (15 years, 9 months ago) |
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I would hope that it's not a single override code - it's probably unique for each safe, and the manufacturer looks it up in their database. So it's as secure as that database.
I wonder if the override code can be changed? Otherwise the safe in that article has been compromised because the employees know the code.
-------------------- I know... that just the smallest part of the world belongs to me You know... I'm not a blind man but truth is the hardest thing to see
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johnm214



Registered: 05/31/07
Posts: 17,582
Loc: Americas
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Re: Password protecting external HD [Re: zouden]
#8746379 - 08/08/08 09:12 PM (15 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
zouden said: I would hope that it's not a single override code - it's probably unique for each safe, and the manufacturer looks it up in their database. So it's as secure as that database.
I wonder if the override code can be changed? Otherwise the safe in that article has been compromised because the employees know the code.
yeah, hopefully that is the case and the code is per safe serial number or something
And if a store can call the company and get a combo in five minutes, it doesn't sound like the safe is too secure.
All I'm saying is that I think the limitation should be advertised to the public.
Since its a gun safe, maybe people don't care that the manufacturer can disclose the combo.
Either way, the consumer should know who has access to the numbers and under what circumstances, absent a court order, such will be disclosed.
For example, could I simply break into someone's house, call my friend at wallmart, have him call the safe company and say they need it now due to an emergency? Hopefully not, but who knows.
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RoosterCogburn
Fearless,one-eyed U.S.Marshall



Registered: 08/25/06
Posts: 8,508
Loc: Dirty South, NJ
Last seen: 12 years, 8 months
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Re: Password protecting external HD [Re: Seuss]
#8747355 - 08/09/08 01:30 AM (15 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Seuss said: > I never trusted any HD encryption crap...
But you trust a third party... funny, that.
I mean software encryption... The IronKey uses some crazy hardware encryption, plus is has a shredder/self destruct if you fail the 15 character password too many times or try to take it apart.
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watchoutnow
mind'sonrecord/itsbeingviewed


Registered: 04/13/07
Posts: 598
Last seen: 12 years, 6 months
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Re: Password protecting external HD [Re: RoosterCogburn]
#8777194 - 08/15/08 11:17 AM (15 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
RoosterCogburn said:
Quote:
Seuss said: > I never trusted any HD encryption crap...
But you trust a third party... funny, that.
I mean software encryption... The IronKey uses some crazy hardware encryption, plus is has a shredder/self destruct if you fail the 15 character password too many times or try to take it apart.
that would suck if that malfunctioned.
-------------------- I quit. Touch it. "My views ain't changed to live humane wait" -Eminem "Ya'll make me too rounded and I'm addicted, WTF I'm drunk. Wtf I'm high. Wtf I'm... Not sober... Sober block." -me crazily self. "From that what, knowledge of self - determination!" -Blackstar ----------------------------------------------------------------- Ever since I got braces shit gets stuck in my teeth. Make me *** bitch!
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golden1



Registered: 06/18/08
Posts: 1,707
Loc: north korea
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Re: Password protecting external HD [Re: watchoutnow]
#8782465 - 08/16/08 01:53 PM (15 years, 9 months ago) |
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1. First of all, do you pass-protect your external drives? How? Truecrypt(opensource) is my favorite
2. If I decided to go the encryption route, will encrypting my data make accessing it a lot slower? depends on the encryption you use, but generally no
3. If it's encrypted, will I need that third party software to view my data on another computer? yeah
4. I use this drive most commonly on XP, 2000, Vista, 98 or OS X. It's gonna be a bitch getting software to work on all of those operating systems, isn't it? Truecrypt has versions for all of those(edit: okay I don't see one for 98)
5. Whats the chance that I will encrypt my data and be unable to decrypt it, thus losing all of my data? unless you forget the password or the drive malfunctions, no chance
http://www.truecrypt.org/
good luck
Edited by golden1 (08/16/08 01:58 PM)
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Ferris
PsychedelicJourneyman



Registered: 03/12/06
Posts: 11,529
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Re: Password protecting external HD [Re: golden1]
#8793188 - 08/18/08 10:16 PM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
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I've used truecrypt before, but only for intellectual property that is low in size (<100mb) It can be a real bitch having to decrypt data every time you want to use it, but that's the price you pay for security I guess.
-------------------- Discuss Politics
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Seuss
Error: divide byzero



Registered: 04/27/01
Posts: 23,480
Loc: Caribbean
Last seen: 3 months, 8 days
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Re: Password protecting external HD [Re: golden1]
#8794305 - 08/19/08 06:36 AM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
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> edit: okay I don't see one for 98
Win98 shouldn't be considered as a viable OS. It has known security issues that cannot be fixed due to a flaw in the design of the OS.
-------------------- Just another spore in the wind.
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HELLA_TIGHT
Madge the Smoking Vag


Registered: 08/19/03
Posts: 84,387
Loc: Afghanistan
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Re: Password protecting external HD [Re: Ferris]
#8798450 - 08/19/08 09:12 PM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
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I just installed it on my work laptop, it was easy.
Full disk encryption, it just asks for a password before booting into windows. I'm thinking of installing it on my home drives, but I'm not sure yet.
--------------------
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delta9
Active Ingredient


Registered: 10/28/04
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Loc: California
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Re: Password protecting external HD [Re: zouden]
#8799741 - 08/20/08 05:51 AM (15 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
zouden said: I would hope that it's not a single override code - it's probably unique for each safe, and the manufacturer looks it up in their database. So it's as secure as that database.
Which is probably not very secure at all, considering how many companies have problems with PCI compliance, why should we believe they are better at protecting data they aren't required to by law?
-------------------- delta9
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