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Are any of you guys using encryption software to protect your personal data? What are you using? Do you think this free one is any good? http://www.safehousesoftware.com/SafeHouseExplorer.aspx

Kanelli,

If you use such software you gonna have to stick to it as long as you keep your files encrypted. A more convenient way if you must encrypt your files is to use windows Encryption. It depends on your version of Windows and it also has a drawback: if you lose your operating system you lose your files unless you do a little trick to export a certificate to retain your credentials once your operating system is reinstalled.

Hmm, encrypting doesn't look so rosy now.

kanelli wrote:Hmm, encrypting doesn't look so rosy now.

If you did...Etisalat would ban you!



Knight

I'm trying to learn more about data security, ID protection, and internet security but it is hard to find a good resource for people who aren't computer wizards.

Do you want to encrypt something stored on your computer or everything going into and out of it over the internet?
There are various ways to encrypt data on your computer, safehouse being one of the aftermarket methods.
The internet is inherently unsecure, which is what RIM have addressed to a degree.
But anything sent beyond the realms of the RIM network is once again exposed to anyone else who cares to read it.
The best that you can do is make sure you have everything setup to make it harder to get into your computer, like password protected, firewall, anti-virus software.
If you are really parenoid, don't send anything sensitive via email. Banks etc have 'secure' websites for this purpose.
But if someone really wants to, they will find you.
If your worried about etisalat, a vpn is the next best thing after blackberry.
But they can decipher VPN data if they really wanted to also.
In summary,
We're all screwed.

kanelli wrote:I'm trying to learn more about data security, ID protection, and internet security but it is hard to find a good resource for people who aren't computer wizards.

I am using DataTraveler Vault.
Some encryption algorhytms can give you trouble when entering certain countries.
It all depends in what environment you are using it, for what reason and what level of protection you want. The only way of reaching 100% security is pulling the plug.

-- Thu Aug 05, 2010 10:57 pm --

benwj wrote:But they can decipher VPN data if they really wanted to also.

That depends on what you are using as encryption algorhythm. Do it right and nobody can listen.

Thanks guys, will check it out!

Flying Dutchman wrote:

benwj wrote:But they can decipher VPN data if they really wanted to also.

That depends on what you are using as encryption algorhythm. Do it right and nobody can listen.

I've done this from router to router, but someone without an offshore internet connection would have to use a third party vpn.
I use these also, but haven't come across or searched for any secure ones. Have you?

I wouldn't trust any third party. When using https (rc4 has been proven to be hackable) or the native microsoft client it is not secure for sure.

When not having your own infrastructure, IPv6 is your best bet.

I'm a big fan of free software, so I've been using AVG Anti-virus free edition, which doesn't have identity protection unless you upgrade. Has anyone used AVG Identity Protection - is it worth buying? Today I have downloaded IObit Security 360 and SpywareBlaster for back-up and further coverage. Anyone used these? Do you think they cover as well as AVG Identity Protection?

I've decided against encryption software because I don't think I need that kind of security for my purposes.

Now I'm looking at IP address issues. I'm not in Dubai and don't have a need to get around any barriers imposed by authorities, so perhaps I don't need to do anything with that?

-- Sat Aug 07, 2010 1:39 pm --

And now I found some nice software called KeyScrambler!

kanelli wrote:I'm a big fan of free software, so I've been using AVG Anti-virus free edition, which doesn't have identity protection unless you upgrade. Has anyone used AVG Identity Protection - is it worth buying? Today I have downloaded IObit Security 360 and SpywareBlaster for back-up and further coverage. Anyone used these? Do you think they cover as well as AVG Identity Protection?

I've decided against encryption software because I don't think I need that kind of security for my purposes.

Now I'm looking at IP address issues. I'm not in Dubai and don't have a need to get around any barriers imposed by authorities, so perhaps I don't need to do anything with that?

-- Sat Aug 07, 2010 1:39 pm --

And now I found some nice software called KeyScrambler!

We have been using AVG for years and find it do everything we want.

Not_Sure wrote:Kanelli....dont bother.

If we were to sit in a cafe, with wifi....i would get all your email logins in 5 minutes.

even with HTTPS, SSL, and certificates....

You may have no clue how it works...but guess what...it does...and its easy!
http://www.oxid.it/cain.html
http://www.thoughtcrime.org/software/sslstrip/


Your knowledge of IT.....is a cherry on a cake.
My knowledge is just the cream on top of it.

Just think of the people who make the cake itself!


forget the whole dam thing.....

Any suggestions on what to do to protect ourselves, even partially?????

In WIFI cafes, I use a secure VPN, with 1024 bit encryption, which I'm told is virtually unbreakable (It would brut force computers 2 years to decrypt it. At least, that's what I've been told. It could be BS. I don't know!!!!!),. But I guess that's still better than nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not_Sure wrote:If we were to sit in a cafe, with wifi....i would get all your email logins in 5 minutes.

With WEP perhaps. WPA/WPA 2 is a complete different story. For WPA/2 you will some sort of brute force, which makes your PSK/passphrase so important (make it as difficult as possible).

Not_Sure wrote:You may have no clue how it works...but guess what...it does...and its easy!
http://www.oxid.it/cain.html
http://www.thoughtcrime.org/software/sslstrip/

Thats for script kiddies!

Not_Sure wrote:forget the whole dam thing.....

LoL, thats the lamest attempt of hacking I have ever seen!

I guess you also don't have a lock at your front door because it has been proven locks can be broken.

See, that's what I want to know. How do I protect well? The software I have is supposed to protect from people loading keylogging software on my computer, and the keyscrambler scrambles my typing so that they can't see the actual passwords that I am typing.

Also found some neat software for protecting files - My Lockbox

Flying Dutchman wrote:

Not_Sure wrote:If we were to sit in a cafe, with wifi....i would get all your email logins in 5 minutes.

With WEP perhaps. WPA/WPA 2 is a complete different story. For WPA/2 you will some sort of brute force, which makes your PSK/passphrase so important (make it as difficult as possible).

Not_Sure wrote:You may have no clue how it works...but guess what...it does...and its easy!
http://www.oxid.it/cain.html
http://www.thoughtcrime.org/software/sslstrip/

Thats for script kiddies!

Not_Sure wrote:forget the whole dam thing.....

LoL, thats the lamest attempt of hacking I have ever seen!

I guess you also don't have a lock at your front door because it has been proven locks can be broken.

Good analogy in the last comment FD!!!

I couldn't agree more!!