Re: portably encrypting a file system

From: David Eather (eather_at_tpg.com.au)
Date: 11/25/05

  • Next message: Jeffrey Tan[MSFT]: "RE: WorkStation" 
    Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 03:41:12 +1000

    onetitfemme wrote:
    > Hi *,
    >
    > I have firewire and USB devices with partitions/logical drives, whole
    > directories and/or files I would like to encrypt. The thing is that I
    > need to be able to just plug in the thing on any x86 machine running a
    > commercial OS that would just take it (and AFAIK the only filesystem
    > that even a MAC would seamlessly 'mount' is vfat/FAT32)
    >
    > is there anyway to do that?
    >
    > I have read quite a bit about it and I still don't find exactly what I
    > need.
    >
    > Also, why exactly does encryption belong in the kernel? I think once
    > you make it a kernel-depending functionality 'portability' to other OS
    > goes out the window
    >
    > Are there libraries out there (of course, preferably OSS ones) which
    > you could compile for different OS and have access to pluggable
    > devices?
    >
    > thanx
    > otf
    >

    This link might provide what you want, assuming what you want is not
    strong encryption. It is a hardware DES encrypted that goes between the
    HDD and the interface, for example inside a portable USB drive (but you
    will have to make a way for physical access to remove the key).

    Because this device works in ecb mode, a determined attacker will be
    able to extract some data (particularly text) within a short period of
    time (hours or days at most)using classical crypto methods. This is way
    shorter than claimed - but it might be enough to put off or defeat the
    non-expert.

    It is completely transparent to the operating system / hardware so it
    doesn't care what you use.

    http://www.elkom.com.tw/?section=2&id=13

  • Next message: Jeffrey Tan[MSFT]: "RE: WorkStation"

    Relevant Pages

    • Re: portably encrypting a file systems partition, directory and/or file
      ... > I have firewire and USB devices with partitions/logical drives, ... > you make it a kernel-depending functionality 'portability' to other OS ... if you're looking at encrypted filesystems the encryption ...
      (alt.computer.security)
    • Re: portably encrypting a file system
      ... > I have firewire and USB devices with partitions/logical drives, ... why exactly does encryption belong in the kernel? ... will have to make a way for physical access to remove the key). ...
      (sci.crypt)
    • Re: Potential USB flash drive threats & vulnerabilities
      ... USB devices are also considered a problem because they are used to ... Encryption will not reduce ... threats of malware as malware files can also be encrypted and decrypted. ... > devices such as flash drives and other storage media. ...
      (microsoft.public.security)
    • Re: Getting Linux to detect keyloggers?
      ... Anyone who has physical access to your computer can compromise it. ... go through the trouble trying to get your encryption key beforehand or ... use to monitor information such as keyboard keystrokes using highly ...
      (comp.os.linux.misc)
    • Re: Crypted Disk Question
      ... > And if you had sufficient physical access to the drive to ... or because your passpharase is blank... ... >> it really depends on what kinds of reasons the encryption ...
      (freebsd-hackers)