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Sophos Free Encryption

Arthur_Dent

Hi folks

1st post so please be patient (cheers!)  I have just come across this product and I have a few queries.

1)  Is this suitable to protect (by encryption) data (such as medical records) contained on a USB flash drive?  ie ithout the password, the data is secure (eg confidential patient records).

2)  If the answer to the above is yes, do you have to:

a) format the drive with the sofware first and then save the data to the drive in the normal way

or

b) can the software encrypt a drive that already contains data without corrupting the data.

3)  Once the data is stored on the drive - it is stored in an encryped manner (n00b question I know but I'm just checking)?

4)  If you can encrypt data on a USB flash drive, do you have to mount the USB drive to store data and dismount the drive in order to remove the USB flash drive?  ie is the procedure for using the encrypted drive SIMPLE?

5)  Is the procedure for storing and retreiving data as simple as drag & drop and can this be done through WIndows?

6)  Is the software compatible with Windows 32-bit  / XP / Vista / Win 7  Home editions and the Pro versions of XP and Vista?

7)  What happens if the drive is removed without proper shut-down/removel procedure - is the data still encryped or will this bugger the data up?

8)  If you forget the password it would be reformat/game-over right?  The data is "lost" to all intents & purposes?

I think that's about all for now!  I'm asking these questions on behalf of my wife (no offence, but she's an absloute Luddite when it comes to technology - "technophobe" doesn't even come close :smileytongue:).

Thanks in anticipation,

Art

:3167


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  • 0

    Hello Art and welcome,

    sorry if this reply is disappointing but the Sophos Free Encryption encrypts files and folders on demand only, it does not encrypt "on the fly". Thus if you save data from an application you have to encrypt them afterwards (but it is possible to have them automatically wiped after encryption). To access the data again you have to decrypt them.

    If she wants to use the drive on different computers an encrypting USB stick is probably the best solution (although not free) especially since setting up and administering encryption software requires at least some knowledge. This is true for both free open-source (e.g. TrueCrypt or FreeOTFE) and commercial software.

    7)  What happens if the drive is removed without proper shut-down/removel procedure - is the data still encryped or will this bugger the data up?

    On-the-fly encryption never stores unencrypted data so there is no risk of "leakage". But whatever can cause unencrypted data to be lost also endangers encrypted data and even partial recovery might be impossible. As one should back up important data anyway this is not really an additional risk though.

    8)  If you forget the password it would be reformat/game-over right?  The data is "lost" to all intents & purposes?

    Yup, else it would not make much sense.

    HTH

    Christian

    :3172
  • 0

    Sophos provides a free encryption utility to encrypt and compress sensitive information. It can be used for free commercially and personally.

    :20983