sending a large file via email

esuhl

I'd be careful if you use a file compression program to password-protect the file(s). From what I've heard, the password protection is trivial to crack in many cases. Then again, if you were thinking about emailing the file, I guess security isn't a big concern...

I'd simply use FTP - it's what it was designed for. Install and configure an FTP server on your machine, and anyone with the right password can connect and download the file(s) - assuming your PC is on and the FTP server is running at the time!

Have a look at FileZilla - it's available for both Linux and Windows.

esuhl

Actually... what about using Dropbox? That'd be easier than FTP. Install it on your PC, and put the file(s) you want to share in your Dropbox folder. Then get the recipient to install Dropbox and use the same username/password to gain access to the same account. The Dropbox folder on both PCs will be synchronised so any files put into the folder will be copied to each other's PC.

It's also available for Linux and Windows and free for 2GB of space.

You can get it via dropbox.com, or if you use the referral link below, we'll both get an extra 250MB free: http://db.tt/6d0BLWq

Ximian

Try this with WinRAR:

1.) Open WinRAR, select the drive and the directory from the drop down menu, basically use WinRAR to browse to the location of the file you want to select.
2.) Once you have browsed to the file highlight the file and select the "Add" icon on the top left.
3.) Select RAR or Zip depending on what format you'd like to compress the file with. At the bottom left "Split to Volumes, bytes" type the size of the individual files that will be created. Note 50 000 bytes will create files 50Kb so if you want files that are 5MB then you need to type 5mb for the size.
4.) Select the advanced tab, then select "set password" type your desired password and select OK

S0litaire

esuhl wrote: »

Actually... what about using Dropbox?

DON'T USE DROPBOX for confidential info!!!
Don't touch it with a bargepole!!!!
it's NOT secure!

Ximian

esuhl wrote: »

Actually... what about using Dropbox? That'd be easier than FTP. Install it on your PC, and put the file(s) you want to share in your Dropbox folder. Then get the recipient to install Dropbox and use the same username/password to gain access to the same account. The Dropbox folder on both PCs will be synchronised so any files put into the folder will be copied to each other's PC.

It's also available for Linux and Windows and free for 2GB of space.

You can get it via dropbox.com, or if you use the referral link below, we'll both get an extra 250MB free: http://db.tt/6d0BLWq

Nice idea but: http://www.ubergizmo.com/2011/06/dropbox-password-glitch/
Besides, I'd prefer to not have my data in a cloud

esuhl

S0litaire wrote: »

DON'T USE DROPBOX for confidential info!!!
Don't touch it with a bargepole!!!!
it's NOT secure!

Neither is email nor relying on WinZip's password-protection, which it seems the OP is happy with.

Apart from the recent jaw-dropping reckless incompetence that resulted in Dropbox users' files being accessible by anyone without needing a username/password... Is there any reason to suppose that, in general, DropBox is less secure than standard email or elementary encryption such as WinZip's, etc.

All that notwithstanding, I wouldn't rely on Dropbox for security! Probably should've mentioned that...

Seriously, if security is an issue, I'd create a TrueCrypt partition on a hard drive, stick the files in that, and send it by courier.

Ximian

lemontart wrote: »

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You can set up an FTP server on your machine, you'd need to open or forward some ports though. If you use FileZilla Server you can create a custom certificate for encrypted communications using FTPS (FTP is not secure, passwords and data are sent in cleartext - unencrypted) and then your colleague/friend can use FileZilla Client to connect to your server securely. It's not that hard but might require some fiddling around.

S0litaire

WinRAR's password protection is acceptable.

The OP does NOT need to install a FTP server/dropbox/or whatever

All he wants to do is sende a 150Mb file via email

The best time/effort blance is to use WinRAR to break the file into 15Mb chunks and use a strong random password, for example a 12 character password using both upper & lower case letters, numbers and special characters will be VERY secure (eg: %gf"34Rff6H!)

He must make sure he tests the password locally before sending it off to the recipient (and sending the password in a separate email)

Anyone one willing to take the time to intercept and decode this (which would take months to break using current high-end home computers) would probably be in law enforcement and have other, quicker, ways of getting the data from you!

Not to sound too rude! ^_~
YES the data may seem personal and confidential to you and your recipient, but in the larger scheme of things it's probably boring and not worth the time to the average script kiddie or wannabe hacker.

spakkker

Is there something going nuclear that jo public isn't allowed to know ?

S0litaire

spakkker wrote: »

Is there something going nuclear that jo public isn't allowed to know ?

You never know!

The OP might be trying to send an incriminating video clip about a Media mogul to a competing broadcaster... ^_~ lol

Or

He's just trying to send accident, medical reports + xrays to his insurance company, about an accident...

either way this thread is suffering from "Target Drift" (where the solution to the initial problem is lost in the middle of larger and more elaborate solutions. For good examples of"Target Drift" see most Bond villains and their plans for world conquest!) lol!!