Practical 11.3 TrueCrypt

Ok..... this time we will be trying out another encrypting system the TrueCrypt............

First..... go to www.truecrypt.org to get your TrueCrypt program.......(If the URL does not work... go to any search engines and search for "TrueCrypt")

Click on the Downloads button and then under the Windows Vista/XP/2000 section..... click on the Downloads button again to download the TrueCrypt program~~~ After successfully downloading the file, run the installer and proceed with deafult options.......

When the installation completes launch the Truecrypt program and select NO if they prompt you for a tutorial......(Don't waste your time)

Now.... Your TrueCrypt window should be the same as what is shown in the following screenshot.....
To start off... click on the Create Volume button........The Creation Wizard window should appear as shown in the next screenshot.......

Here, choose the first option Create an encrypted file container and click Next to proceed on....Keep on following any default options until you have reach a window prompting you for the volume size as shown in the screenshot below....

The volume size is recommended to be at 1MB as this is just a testing....Remember that the MB option is selected and not the others.....now click Next and yet again proceed on with default options...........

When you have reach the window on "Volume Format" as shown in the screenshot above....move your mouse around, within the window, for at least 30 seconds to strengthen the encryption...(I do not kknow why, but just do it....If you notice, when you move your cursor around,,, the line of letters and numbers in Random Pool: begins to change every fast as compared to when your don't move your cursor)

After moving your cursor around for at least 30 seconds or until you are satisfied..... click Next to complete your volume creation.....

When you have finish creating your volume you should be back at the home window of truecrypt....But now you should see that one of your drives is not empty anymore as indicated in the screenshot above by the red rectangle^^^^^

Now with a drive activated.... Remember the Encryted.docx & Not Encrypted.docx from the previous post????? now you can move the Encrypted.docx into the activated drive, which you can find when you open My Computer....... Now try opening both Encrypted.docx & Not Encrypted.docx did you noticee any difference in the time taken to open these 2 files????

After you are done,, to unactivate your encrypted drive, go back to your TrueCrypt program and simply click on the Dismount button......

There you have it :)

Practical 11.2 Microsoft's Encrpyting File System(EFS)

Ever used before the default encrpytion system that comes with your OS????? Lets try it out :)

Okkkkkkk.... First create a random Word document with a little bit of contents..... Then named it Encrpyted.docx....... then save it again, but this time as Not Encrpyted.docx ........ If you cannot decide on what to type in your Word document you can copy my content as shown in the screenshot below>>>>>>>>
Ok.... After all that is done..... Close the Word document.....

Right-click on Encrpyted.docx and choose the Properties option......
In the Properties window, click on the Advanced button in the General tab.....

The "Advanced Attributes" window should now appear as shown in the screenshot below.....
Now most of you should have the same situation as seen in the screenshot below; your last check box is greyed out....The Encrpyt contents to secure data box is greyed out..... That is because the version of your Windows 7 OS does not support the Encrpyting File System(EFS).....

FYI only Windows 7 Professional,Ultimate & Enterprise have EFS, the other versions do not have EFS........Some of you might not even find the Advanced button in your Properties window,,,, that is because the system that your file is in is not a NTFS system, therefore, you might need to change the location of your file......


However, for those of you who can check the box, lets proceed on...........
After checking the box..... click OK and try to open Encrpyted.docx again..... Did you notice any difference in the time taken to open the document????

Well there you have it....Thats how you use your default encrpyting system EFS..... :) byebye