Windows Vista Forums
Vista Forums Home Join Vista Forums Windows 7 Forum Vista Tutorials Tags
Welcome to Windows Vista Forums. Our forum is dedicated to helping you find solutions with any problems, errors or issues you are experiencing with Windows Vista. The Vista forum also covers news and updates and has an extensive Windows Vista tutorial section that covers a wide range of tips and tricks.

Go Back   Vista Forums > Vista Newsgroups > Vista account administration

Vista - Encryption and passwords

Reply
 
Old 06-14-2008   #1 (permalink)
FPS


 
 

Encryption and passwords

I have password protected my thumb drive. I was advised to encrypt those
files for complete safety -- and I did.

However, to access the encrypted files, I need to enter a password. Now, I
have 2 passwords -- one for the thumb drive and one for the encrypted vault.

Can someone please explain why the encryption is "safer" when those files
can be accessed with a password and the thumb drive itself is password
protected, too?



My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 06-14-2008   #2 (permalink)


Vista Ultimate 32bit
 
 

Re: Encryption and passwords

Even lacking a password, it is possible, though only for someone who has the technical knowledge to access the raw data and defeat the password. If the data is encrypted, then the raw data will be more difficult to read - one would have to break the cryptogram to unencrypt the data. Basically, it's just really, really hard.

In protecting your data, one should first consider, what is my data worth? If your data has a value, then you should protect it. Chances are you have gone a bit overboard. Yet, USB drives are easily lost.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 06-15-2008   #3 (permalink)
FPS


 
 

Re: Encryption and passwords

thank you for your reply and your promptness. Basically, you've confirmed
that someone can work around or bypass the passwords and still be thwarted by
the encrypted files. Aha!!

"solonfox" wrote:
Quote:

>
> Even lacking a password, it is possible, though only for someone who has
> the technical knowledge to access the raw data and defeat the password.
> If the data is encrypted, then the raw data will be more difficult to
> read - one would have to break the cryptogram to unencrypt the data.
> Basically, it's just really, really hard.
>
> In protecting your data, one should first consider, what is my data
> worth? If your data has a value, then you should protect it. Chances are
> you have gone a bit overboard. Yet, USB drives are easily lost.
>
>
> --
> solonfox
>
> -solon fox
> "Ancora imparo" (Still I am learning) - Michelangelo
>
My System SpecsSystem Spec
Reply

Thread Tools


Similar Threads
Thread Forum
Solved encryption Network & Sharing
encryption System Security
encryption Vista mail
How Robust Is The Encryption Model In BitLocker Drive Encryption Vista General
NTLM Passwords Linux NAS passwords Vista networking & sharing


Vista Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized,
sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation.
"Windows Vista", the Start Orb, and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.
© Designer Media Ltd

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46