MaximumPC 2005 06

How To

58 MA XIMUMPC JUNE 2005

STEP 1: OBTAIN PRIVATE DISK

We tested several tools capable of encrypting the

contents of a pocket drive. We wanted a secure,

user-friendly program that could be run from

the encrypted drive itself, so we wouldn’t have

to install it on every computer we take our fi les

to. Our top choices were Lockngo Professional

($40, http://www.keynesis.com ) and Private Disk ( $45,

http://www.dekart.com ). Both apps consume a negligible

amount of disk space, and each boasts 256-bit

AES encryption for the entire contents of a drive (many utilities

encrypt only the fi le system and not the data, leaving the latter

vulnerable to cracking).

Although Lockngo Professional is easier to set up and use

than Private Disk , we prefer the latter for several reasons. First,

Lockngo won’t let you leave a portion of your pocket drive

unencrypted for storing unclassifi ed data—it’s all or nothing.

Second, you can use the same copy of Private Disk on as

many pocket drives as you wish, whereas you must purchase

a separate copy of Lockngo Professional for each pocket drive

you own. Private Disk can even be used to encrypt fi les on your

computer’s hard drive. And fi nally, unlike Lockngo , Private Disk

encrypts data on the fl y as you copy it to your pocket drive,

making it considerably faster. Read on to learn how to set up

Private Disk on a pocket drive.

If you forget the password to your encrypted files,

Private Disk can try to guess it using a brute

force

attack. If youve chosen a good password, however,

the guessing process could take years.

5nlike some of its competitors, $ekarts Private Disk allows

you to leave part of your pocket drive unencrypted. This

means you can protect your vital data, but still have easy

access to less critical files.

STEP 2: INSTALL PRIVATE DISK AND CREATE AN IMAGE FILE



can even be used to encrypt fi les on your



can even be used to encrypt fi les on your

computer’s hard drive. And fi nally, unlike



computer’s hard drive. And fi nally, unlike Lockngo



Lockngo

encrypts data on the fl y as you copy it to your pocket drive,



encrypts data on the fl y as you copy it to your pocket drive,

making it considerably faster. Read on to learn how to set up making it considerably faster. Read on to learn how to set up 

5nlike some of its competitors, $ekarts



5nlike some of its competitors, $ekarts Private Disk



Private Disk

you to leave part of your pocket drive unencrypted. This



you to leave part of your pocket drive unencrypted. This

means you can protect your vital data, but still have easy



means you can protect your vital data, but still have easy

access to less critical files.



access to less critical files.



INSTALL PRIVATE DISK AND CREATE AN IMAGE FILE



INSTALL PRIVATE DISK AND CREATE AN IMAGE FILE

The fi rst thing you’ll need to do is download and install Private

Disk on your computer (every Windows OS since Windows 95

is supported). When you run the program for the fi rst time, we

recommend heading over to the Options tab and unchecking

“Closing the window will minimize the program to System

taskbar” and “Display icon on System taskbar.” Then, return

to the Disk tab and click the Create button. If you haven’t

connected your pocket drive to your computer yet, do so

now, and then click the Browse button and navigate to your

pocket drive. The encrypted data on your pocket drive will be

represented by a .dpd fi le in Windows Explorer. Enter a name

for this fi le and click Save.

You should now be back in the New Private Disk window.

Feel free to experiment with the various options here later

on; for now, let’s just deal with the “Disk size” fi eld. You

can encrypt as little or as much of your pocket drive as you

wish—just be sure to reserve about 2MB of unencrypted free

space for storing the Private Disk program fi les. For instance,

to encrypt a 256MB USB fl ash drive (which had an actual

capacity of 242MB, according to Windows XP), we specifi ed a

240MB image size.

At this point, click the Create button and choose a

password for your encrypted data. The usual common-sense

advice applies here: Use a long password that isn’t something

ridiculously obvious (e.g., your name) and that incorporates

a combination of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and

symbols. You can even use an easy-to-remember sentence.

Make sure it’s something you won’t forget though—if you

do forget it, your encrypted fi les are as good as gone. Lastly,

format the new virtual drive when prompted, using whatever

settings you desire.

7e chose to save our encrypted disk image to a 53" flash

drive, but you can also create an encrypted image file on your

0#s hard drive and use it to protect important files stored

there. This can be useful if, say, your hard drive gets stolen or

you have snoopy coworkers or family members.