Question about M17 and Vitakey

If you use it to encrypt a file (file protection on right click), then you format your computer and put the encrypted file on an external disk. What options to you have if you want to decrypt that file ?

 

Bump (no one tried ? )

 

There is a feature in vitakey called Search Protected Files.

Give that a try.

Never used protect files, because the vita keys doesn't work all the time.

 

Im wondering if/how you can access the file you encrypted after you format the driver and you reinstall vita key. Or if theres another way to access the file in case the hardware breaks.

 

you might have to hack it. AFAIK, when Windoes (any version) encrypts a file, it does so using a unique code generated when the system is installed.... that plus a password usually does the trick.... so once that code is destroyed, your only option would be to try to generate it again... usually by hacking.

In no way do I claim to know 100% how these things work, this is just what i've heard... so be free to try other options.

 

So its not possible to reinstall Vita key, setup the finger prints again and decrypt that file ? Sigh

 

I am not sure how vitakeys work, but you are required to enter a password in order to set it up.
That password alone can generate an unique key for encrypting and decrypting.

Additionally, you can backup your finger keys.

 

Nice one, found it. So theres an option in case you format, you can restore the user data back.

Thanks

 

That's odd, so the rescue of encrypted data is dependent on whether you back up your keys? Shame if someone doesn't know enough to do so.

The place I work encrypts data using something called Credant. The data stays encrypted until the moment you export it off the machine to a network drive or an external device.

In that case, if you want to test, try sending an encrypted file to a flash drive and opening it from another computer. If it works, then Vitakey is decrypting files on the fly and there's nothing to worry about if you want to archive those files externally. There might be a problem if your files are stored on the local disc and the filesystem ends up corrupted though.

As for hacking, it probably won't succeed as any moderately reliable encryption software would encrypt at a bit rate that would translate to a few hundred years of work -- provided you had access to at least one supercomputer.

- F

 

Doubt VitaKey is encrypting them on the fly since it takes a long time to encrypt big files.

Making a backup of the key is not that hard, you right click the tray icon and its there along the restore key button, quite easy.

 

I just tried vitakey encrypting, it is on the fly. Which takes LONG TIME to encrypt and decrypt.

 

I dislike Vita key, personally

 

That probably explains why there's so much disc activity on my M17 at the weirdest times.

How did you test Vitakey?

- F

 

Just tested it for myself now.

You cant access the file by moving it on another computer.
If you move it you have a blabla.exe.vitakey extension which even if you rename it to .exe you still cant access the file.

So without decrypting it you cant access it even on another computer.

Why ? its fun

 

I was affraid I'd lock myself out of my files and then be thoroughly upset.

 

Yea was thinking the same thats why i made this post

But apparently you can avoid everything. For eg, formatting you pc, you just restore the user data and you can unlock the file. Finger print device breaks you can use the password to unlock it

 

Keyboard and fingerprint go out? ;P I think the reader works great, the software is a joke. That's my opinion, don't expect others to honor it. But, I prefer a fingerprint to login to Vista.. And a password if I encrypt files. Those 2 shouldn't be combined. But, whateva..

 

Its for safety precautions One breaks, one still works to finish the job

Think that worries me is what happens if you lose the key backup. But still losing the file AND having to format the hdd its still a long shot. (since if your windows are still ok you can still make another backup )