Encrypt backup data

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G

Guest

I would like to encrypt a folder on my harddrive using XP EFS. If I do that
and copy the folder to a DVD for backup, will the folder be encrypted on the
DVD? If it is encrypted and I lost my harddrive, how would I be able to
access the data? If it is not, how would I go about encrypting the folder on
the DVD?
 
EFS works only on the NTFS file system, which DVDs do not support; so the
folder cannot be copied encrypted to the DVD. (It can be copied unencrypted,
of course.) There are a couple of other options. You can format USB drives
to NTFS and copy your encrypted files to that media. You can, also, use
ntbackup to create a backup of your folder and burn that backup to your DVD.
When the backup is restored, the folder will still be encrypted and can be
decrypted only with the original EFS certificate and key. Whichever choice
you make, be sure to back up your EFS certificate & key to a .pfx file. You
can do that on WXP SP2 at a command prompt using "cipher /x." Store the
certificate backup on removeable media in a safe location. (Do not encrypt
it.) To re-install your certificate, just double-click (or run) the .pfx
file.

Hope that helps.

Thanks.
Pat
 
Stukmeister said:
I would like to encrypt a folder on my harddrive using XP EFS. If I do that
and copy the folder to a DVD for backup, will the folder be encrypted on the
DVD? If it is encrypted and I lost my harddrive, how would I be able to
access the data? If it is not, how would I go about encrypting the folder on
the DVD?
Click to expand...

Before you venture into the encryption jungle make sure you know what
you are doing

The Encrypting File System
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/topics/cryptographyetc/efs.mspx

Best practices for the Encrypting File System
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/223316/en-us
 
Truecrypt (freeware) will create a 'disk inside a file' which you can copy
or burn to any media. You then mount the file as a driveletter.

http://www.truecrypt.org/

Do be careful not to lose the password or key though as this (and EFS)
provide NO means of recovery if it's lost.
 
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