Best way to encrypt an external disk

  • Thread starter Thread starter LurfysMa
  • Start date Start date
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LurfysMa

I would like a way to encrypt a Seagate external hard disk.

Ideally, the solution would involve entering a password when the disk
is connected to my computer (USB connection) and from then on it would
look like a regular disk except that every file on the disk, including
any new ons added, would be encrypted using the same key.

Thanks
 
If the disk is NTFS you could use the built in EFS since the disk is nit the
system disk. Access to the files would be seamless while you were logged on.
Beware however that in Windows 2000 a malicious users with physical access
to your computer could however become administrator and access your
encrypted files if the disk could be connected to the computer and your EFS
private key was still on the computer. A far as using a password you would
need to loom at third party programs. Passwords as keys are vulnerable to
malicious user using keyboard logger to capture password. Whatever you use
be SURE to follow recommended best practices for the product or you could
loose permanent access to your encrypted files. Keeping secured unencrypted
backups is also wise. The links below may be helpful. --- Steve

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;223316 --- EFS
best practices.
http://www.snapfiles.com/Shareware/security/swencrypt.html
http://www.snapfiles.com/Freeware/security/fwencrypt.html
 
If the disk is NTFS you could use the built in EFS since the disk is nit the
system disk. Access to the files would be seamless while you were logged on.
Beware however that in Windows 2000 a malicious users with physical access
to your computer could however become administrator and access your
encrypted files if the disk could be connected to the computer and your EFS
private key was still on the computer. A far as using a password you would
need to loom at third party programs. Passwords as keys are vulnerable to
malicious user using keyboard logger to capture password. Whatever you use
be SURE to follow recommended best practices for the product or you could
loose permanent access to your encrypted files. Keeping secured unencrypted
backups is also wise. The links below may be helpful. --- Steve

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;223316 --- EFS
best practices.
Click to expand...

Ok. I tried to follow the steps in this link. It says to right-click
the folder I want to encrypt and then click on Advanced. I can get it
to do this on the C-disk, but not on any folders on the external drive
(F-disk).

I am ruinning Win 2K. I should have said that before. But this article
says it should work for Win2K and WinXP.
 
microsoft.public.win2000.security news group, LurfysMa
Ok. I tried to follow the steps in this link. It says to right-click
the folder I want to encrypt and then click on Advanced. I can get it
to do this on the C-disk, but not on any folders on the external drive
(F-disk).

I am ruinning Win 2K. I should have said that before. But this article
says it should work for Win2K and WinXP.
Click to expand...

What file system is the external disk formatted with? You need NTFS for
EFS.

--
Paul Adare - MVP Virtual Machines
It all began with Adam. He was the first man to tell a joke--or a lie.
How lucky Adam was. He knew when he said a good thing, nobody had said
it before. Adam was not alone in the Garden of Eden, however, and does
not deserve all the credit; much is due to Eve, the first woman, and
Satan, the first consultant." - Mark Twain
 
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