Re: Self Decrypting Archive Freeware?

From: David Eather (eather_at_tpg.com.au)
Date: 04/29/05 

Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2005 21:24:00 +1000

mike wrote:
> I'd like to keep some files on my computer, but make it hard for
> a casual hacker to get at them. Don't need national security...just
> something better than plain text.
>
> I looked at several encryption programs. They all said, "unencrypt
> your files and reencrypt them with this new version. This implies
> that I'd be up the creek if I couldn't figure out which program and
> version I used to encrypt.
>
> What I'd like is an archive that can be unencrypted...no matter what.
> The obvious solution is to make a self-decrypting archive that is
> independent of OS or application version.
>
> Does such a freeware application exist?
> Thanks, mike

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

I'll make a suggestion that won't be popular with the power
sci.cryp'ers
Just use the old encryption version of PK/Win Zip without any self
decrypting or other add-ons.
The encryption method is not secure. It will not withstand an
educated attack but the average computer user will still have
difficulty. There are cracking programs available but again I think
the average user is in the dark about these.

Because it is so universal, using the zip format ensures that you
will be able to find a "one click" decompression program in 10 years,
probably regardless of what happens with OS's and processors.

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: PGP 8.1

iQA/AwUBQnIZFJS9Fk5okqe7EQI8FACgha5CfCijL5Tw3MCxq/2cxSB912oAoJe8
i79c5vYkRgW/soaawnBrIX2F
=Ub8s
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

(keeping a secret is only useful if you can get it back when you want it)

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