Encryption / Password protect a portable hard disk

jtownson

Hi All,

Can anyone reccomend some good software (free ideally) to password protect and if possible encrypt data on my portable hard disk. I am using it as a backup device if my laptop goes down so need something that will sit on the portable hdd.

Thanks

posted_2

truecrypt ....

S0litaire

+1 for Truecrypt

IcyEars

and another for Truecrypt

Aiadi

And another one from me for TrueCrypt. Has anyone found a workaround the need for admin privileges from version 5 onwards....???

isofa

And should you need alternatives... errrm... Truecrypt - nothing is more secure for free!

(There is a portable version you can run on USB sticks etc, have a look, not sure about the Admin priv. issue)

pealy

I encrypted by USB stick this week using TrueCrypt and it really is very easy.

I found a guide which I found useful here:

http://stuart.amanzi.co.nz/2007/07/09/how-to-secure-a-usb-drive-with-truecrypt/

It shows that you don't need to install Truecrypt at all, you can just drag & drop if you want.

Aiadi

Unfortunately even the traveller mode (actually especially the traveller -portable- mode) needs admin privileges to be able to encrypt and decrypt on the fly.

pealy

Aiadi wrote: »

Unfortunately even the traveller mode (actually especially the traveller -portable- mode) needs admin privileges to be able to encrypt and decrypt on the fly.

Are you talking Vista? I haven't had an issue on my work XP laptop and I'm pretty sure I'm not an administrator.

Aiadi

pealy wrote: »

Are you talking Vista? I haven't had an issue on my work XP laptop and I'm pretty sure I'm not an administrator.

That must be because your PC has had TrueCrypt installed on it using Adminstrative Rights during the installation. Once installed, it will run even if you don't had admin rights on your account. This is the case with both XP and Vista.

http://www.truecrypt.org/docs/?s=administrator-privileges

paladin005

Data Defense from Backup Direct. rule based application using windows own efs keys to encrypt the information on the machine. Can be setup to delete all the information on the machine if it has been stolen. Can also be setup to only accept pen drives etc which have the data defense technology installed on them. The pen drives will in turn be encrypted. The kind of system our government should be looking at. Is sold on a monthly subscription basis of around £10 per machine. For a fully managed service that really isn't bad at all.