encryption software

how good is the software in winxp pro sp2 uses to encrypt files? e.g. u right click on the folder you wanna encrypt then properties-general-advanced-encrypt contents to protect data

The Encrypting File System (EFS) in XP works very well. Just make sure that if you do decide to use encryption, be certain to have a reliable backup of the encryption certificates away from the machine. Otherwise things like rebuilding the system can leave the folders/files totally inaccessible...for good. The following KB and Technet articles may be of some help to you Re: the XP EFS...

Best practices for the Encrypting File System
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;223316

How to back up the recovery agent Encrypting File System (EFS) private key in Windows Server 2003, in Windows 2000, and in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;241201

The Windows Server 2003 Family Encrypting File System ...also applies to XP.
http://www.msdn.microsoft.com/libra...ecure/html/WinNETSrvr-EncryptedFileSystem.asp

Edit: I needed to edit one of the links, as I inserted the wrong one...and I also added the last link to a MSDN article you may find of interest.

redduc900 said:

The Encrypting File System (EFS) in XP works very well. Just make sure that if you do decide to use encryption, be certain to have a reliable backup of the encryption certificates away from the machine. Otherwise things like rebuilding the system can leave the folders/files totally inaccessible...for good. The following KB and Technet articles may be of some help to you Re: the XP EFS...

Best practices for the Encrypting File System
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;223316

Encrypting File System in Windows XP and Microsoft Windows Server 2003
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/default.mspx

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wow.. thankyou for all that info.. i wouldn't need to worry about a certificate if its an external HD just holding backup files with no OS on it, right? and also how many bit encryption is EFS?

How many bit encryption is EFS?

Click to expand...

I believe the XP Pro/Server editions employ only 128-bit high encryption, unlike W2K/NT4 that uses either 56-bit or 128-bit (I think it depends on the SP installed ...SP's higher than SP1 employed 128-bit I believe). To check the encryption strength, right-click the Schannel.dll file in the %systemroot%\system32 directory | Properties | "Version" tab. If the description is "PCT / SSL Security Provider" you have 56-bit encryption, and if the description is "TLS / SSL Security Provider", then it uses 128-bit encryption.

I wouldn't need to worry about a certificate if its an external HD just holding backup files with no OS on it, right?

Click to expand...

Encryption would be much more of a problem if you were to move your external HDD to another computer, involving a backup of the encryption certificates (and if you encrypt you must make such a backup) and its recovery ...and I don't know how that works out if the account name is different. I regard NTFS Encryption as a very dangerous tool ...and if you slip up on such things, the files become irretrievable.

do i have to restart the computer everytime i import and export my private key, to view or hide my files?