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Laptop Encryption Software

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  • 04-07-2011 12:11pm
    #1
    Dr Galen
    Registered Users Posts: 7,373 ✭✭✭


    Hi all,

    Just a quick question. Could anyone recommend a pretty user friendly encryption/security program to run on a Windows laptop.

    We are going to have some rather sensitive data collection going on over the next few months, for a research project, and would like the added protection and safety.

    Anything come to mind?

    thanks for any help

    DrG


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    #2
    dave13
    Registered Users Posts: 811 ✭✭✭dave13


    you can use truecrypt to secure the full hard drive. http://www.truecrypt.org/


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    #3
    voxpop
    Registered Users Posts: 2,800 ✭✭✭voxpop


    Yeah truecrypt is great - very easy to setup and use


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    #4
    jakedixon2004
    Registered Users Posts: 495 ✭✭jakedixon2004


    You could always use PGP if you really value your data.


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    #5
    BaconZombie
    Registered Users Posts: 8,811 ✭✭✭BaconZombie


    The only vaule PGP has over TrueCrypt is that you can embed a master key that can decrypt the data via a central managment system if the end-user forgets their password/pass-phase.
    jakedixon2004 wrote: »
    You could always use PGP if you really value your data.


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    #6
    MiCr0
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 6,265 CMod ✭✭✭✭MiCr0


    do you want whole disk encryption or will just data encryption do?


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    #7
    h57xiucj2z946q
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,267 ✭✭✭h57xiucj2z946q


    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TrueCrypt#Operation_Satyagraha


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    #8
    Kinetic^
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,249 ✭✭✭✭Kinetic^


    Truecrypt for the win!


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    #9
    Dr Galen
    Registered Users Posts: 7,373 ✭✭✭Dr Galen


    MiCr0 wrote: »
    do you want whole disk encryption or will just data encryption do?

    Well its basically going to have some medical information on it. Nothing too serious tbh, and nothing at all embarrassing, but we want to do this right nonetheless. I'd say we'll want to encrypt the disk as opposed to just specific data. Just in case so to speak


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    #10
    h57xiucj2z946q
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,267 ✭✭✭h57xiucj2z946q


    Make sure you backup also. Zip or rar archives with encryption have been proven to be quite good. This is particularly true with strong passwords. You can store these on the likes of dropbox etc..


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    #11
    irishescorts
    Closed Accounts Posts: 27 ✭irishescorts


    Truecrypt is very good however bear in mind all of these full disk enc methods are vulnerable to cold boot attacks.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_boot_attack

    Basically, if the boys start trying to get through the door shut it down and lash it against the wall quick as you can :)

    Also, first post woo.


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    #12
    Dr Galen
    Registered Users Posts: 7,373 ✭✭✭Dr Galen


    tbh I highly doubt anyone will be deliberately trying to get into this machine. Its not the sort of records that will mean much to anyone other than those of us involved. Its really just to have a safety net for any participants in case the laptop was stolen or lost.


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    #13
    irishescorts
    Closed Accounts Posts: 27 ✭irishescorts


    Then truecrypt is the way forward! Only problem is it doesn't support full disk encryption on OSX (My only discredit to it).

    Best of luck!


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    #14
    voxpop
    Registered Users Posts: 2,800 ✭✭✭voxpop


    Dr Galen wrote: »
    Well its basically going to have some medical information on it. Nothing too serious tbh, and nothing at all embarrassing, but we want to do this right nonetheless. I'd say we'll want to encrypt the disk as opposed to just specific data. Just in case so to speak



    With truecrypt you can create a virtual encrypted drive on your normal harddisk - this is the way I run it. It creates an encrypted file on your normal disk, and then it mounts this as a windows drive. Very easy to setup and avoids any partitioning of existing disks. Once created, its mounted by truecrypt as a drive in windows - you just work with it like any normal drive - truecrypt encrypts and decrypts on the fly.


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