Protecting your backup data from prying TGF

[MM 6,562]

I have a 500G USB drive that I have been using to make automatic backups of my main laptop.

 

Knowing her curiosity about the contents of my previous computers, I have been careful not to give my TGF access to my laptop in any way. When I go away from the computer, even for a short trip to the toilet, I lock the computer. I've been doing this for a year at least.

 

A few months ago, on a trip the US, I bought a Western Digital 500GB USB disk and started making automatic backups. I thought nothing of the security aspects of doing this. In fact, until today, I thought all my photo storage was secure, since my laptop was carefully secured from anyone else accessing it.

 

I think you can see where this is going.

 

Today, she asked me to help her scan a document using my alternate desktop system. She has access to this system, and I don't keep anything on it that I wouldn't want her to see. When I attempted to scan the document, the scan program said the C: disk was full. I was amazed, since I hardly put anything on there, but sure enough 245G was used, and 5M was free.

 

So, I started looking through the various directories to find where all the space was. To my surprise, it was under her Documents folder. I started drilling down and discovered pictures and videos from my laptop that I had never put there. I also found some files that were not on my laptop that I had made to take to the bar for the video music system.

 

Well, it turns out she had cleverly moved my USB backup disk to the other computer and copied its contents to her account on the desktop computer. She had loaded 240G of information from every USB stick and my USB backup disk.

 

I was dumbfounded at the simplicity of what she had done, and how my attempts at securing my privacy had been so easily defeated.

 

Luckily there wasn't anything there that incited her to take the lover's revenge while I slept. And, conveniently, we had been separated for a few months, so any pictures could be explained perhaps as being from that time.

 

So, especially for you expats that have a live in who just might be smarter than you think, be aware of this big security hole.

 

I thought of putting this in the expat section, but instead, it's in the Technical section, because I am seeking a solution. Is there a way to password protect my backup disk and still use a backup program?

 

Now I am using the simple WD Backup program that came with the Western Digital drive, but it doesn't have any security/password options.

 

Alternate backup program suggestions would be appreciated...free if possible, cheap if necessary.

[bratpack 91]

My problem is finding a bar that my gf neighbours dont work lol.The last couple of weeks has been a total disaster for me as the places i drink seem to be infested with ladies from my gf village,who know her parents and brothers

[MM 6,562]

My problem is finding a bar that my gf neighbours dont work lol.The last couple of weeks has been a total disaster for me as the places i drink seem to be infested with ladies from my gf village,who know her parents and brothers

 

Have you tried FLB?

[js007 795]

Once upon a time, I bought a Western Digital "Passport" USB drive. As I recall, it came with encryption software. If you wanted, you could store files and folders in a folder that was password protected. I din't have anything I wanted to "protect" except a bunch of music files, so I didn't bother to fool with it. But surely, there's a way to encrypt sensitive files and folders.

[frostfire 1,279]

There are several options.

 

Do you use Vista? (I seem to remember you use XP tho).

 

If you have Vista or Windows 7, you can use BitLocker. Its a drive encryption system that will lock a whole hard drive (encrypt) using a windows user account or password.

 

There are also several 3rd party tools that will do this.

 

Each of them exchange speed for security however. They all slow down data access... but its well worth it in your situation.

 

I had to use bitlocker here for the same reason - got my RAID-5 locked down now.

 

 

Frosty

[MM 6,562]

There are several options.

 

Do you use Vista? (I seem to remember you use XP tho).

 

If you have Vista or Windows 7, you can use BitLocker. Its a drive encryption system that will lock a whole hard drive (encrypt) using a windows user account or password.

 

There are also several 3rd party tools that will do this.

 

Each of them exchange speed for security however. They all slow down data access... but its well worth it in your situation.

 

I had to use bitlocker here for the same reason - got my RAID-5 locked down now.

 

 

Frosty

 

Am using Vista low rent version which doesn't include bitlocker. Any suggestions for free, fast, encryption or password protection on volume load?

[Bazle 1,503]

How about a lo-tech solution like putting the external drive in a safe or a sealed envelope.

[frostfire 1,279]

Well, no... but I just found a version of FolderLock on giganews that seems ok. The crack instructions say you must manually block the app from "phoning home" to check registration using your firewall... easy enough to do, assuming you are using a firewall of some kind in vista? Just block the app's internet access after you install (install with your internet turned off, of course). If you want it, I will email it to you... its fairly small, and I already scanned it for viruses.

 

Frosty

[MM 6,562]

How about a lo-tech solution like putting the external drive in a safe or a sealed envelope.

 

That's a good idea, something I have begun to consider

 

And, of course, there is another low-tech solution too

[villayouth 37]

And, of course, there is another low-tech solution too

 

No.!!! dont get cutting her hands off . stick with the safe

[Sailfast 503]

I also worry about things like theft or a power surge. I keep my Seagate in a separate location from my PC and I don't leave it plugged in or connected to my PC. I have many memories stored in that old seagate

 

Just lock the thing up in your safe and backup once a week or so. Unless of course she has the combo...

[The_Fat_Controller 25]

The answer to your problems is TRUECRYPT.

 

This is an excellent shareware encryption program.

 

You make a truecrypt folder and copy all your sensitive data there, it is password protected.

 

The real beauty is that once created you can add a different filename extension, call it backup.avi and it will LOOK like a video file and Windows will try and open it with a media program, it won't work but will look like it's corrupted.

 

The only program that will open the file is still truecrpt.

[Samsonite 181]

The answer to your problems is TRUECRYPT.

 

This is an excellent shareware encryption program.

 

You make a truecrypt folder and copy all your sensitive data there, it is password protected.

 

The real beauty is that once created you can add a different filename extension, call it backup.avi and it will LOOK like a video file and Windows will try and open it with a media program, it won't work but will look like it's corrupted.

 

The only program that will open the file is still truecrpt.

Agreed, and you can hide an encrypted volume within another encrypted volume making it difficult, if not impossible, to detect even if you give someone the password to the outer volume.

 

http://www.truecrypt.org/

 

BTW, it is Open Source, not Shareware. :)

Edited January 26, 2010 by Samsonite

[jacko 8,827]

I would also be worried what else the sneaky woman had her nose into.

But for now...

[LBJ 533]

And, of course, there is another low-tech solution too

 

You tried that once. It didn't work.

[joekicker 53]

The answer to your problems is TRUECRYPT.

 

This is an excellent shareware encryption program.

 

Truecrypt is a very good security program for prying girl friends and the like. It is FREE, not shareware.

 

.

[MM 6,562]

Agreed, and you can hide an encrypted volume within another encrypted volume making it difficult, if not impossible, to detect even if you give someone the password to the outer volume.

 

http://www.truecrypt.org/

 

BTW, it is Open Source, not Shareware. :)

 

 

I would also be worried what else the sneaky woman had her nose into.

But for now...

 

Both the above solutions are encryption programs, but has anyone a suggestion for a full/incremental automatic backup program that contains encryption as well?

 

I found a product yesterday called COMODO BACKUP. Here is a review that describes it. I'm amazed that the program apparently is free, and as I read it, it's free even if you use their network storage. There's got to be a catch.

 

Has anyone used COMODO Backup? I'm trying it out now.

 

 

You tried that once. It didn't work.

 

More than once, my friend.

[GREEN MALAKA 56]

Both the above solutions are encryption programs, but has anyone a suggestion for a full/incremental automatic backup program that contains encryption as well?

 

I found a product yesterday called COMODO BACKUP. Here is a review that describes it. I'm amazed that the program apparently is free, and as I read it, it's free even if you use their network storage. There's got to be a catch.

 

Has anyone used COMODO Backup? I'm trying it out

 

 

please give a review once you have sussed it out

[ozijeff 9]

My low tech, short term solution is to get the data cable for the WD hard-drive and either hide it or take it with you.

 

She cant look at what she cant connect with (did that make sense?)

[MM 6,562]

please give a review once you have sussed it out

 

Will do (assuming it doesn't hose my working system).

[MM 6,562]

My low tech, short term solution is to get the data cable for the WD hard-drive and either hide it or take it with you.

 

She cant look at what she cant connect with (did that make sense?)

 

This particular 500G drive uses a standard USB cable (the kind with a small end and a big end). Those can be found all over the place. I think you may have a false sense of security if she were to figure that out.

 

Ironically, I'm glad to hear others have apparently had, or take measures to prevent, the same problem.

[bratpack 91]

Have you tried FLB?

 

 

Never thought of that Martin lol.Will check out the rest of neighbours

[lovedog100 1,372]

Never thought of that Martin lol.Will check out the rest of neighbours

Just don't ever take your lady into FLB. Keep it all to yourself. This comes from experience my friend.

[bratpack 91]

Just don't ever take your lady into FLB. Keep it all to yourself. This comes from experience my friend.

 

 

I tend to go to Jomtien for drinking when with gf,much safer and got plenty of friends there too,who all have wives and kids

[MM 6,562]

After clearing sufficient space on my backup drive by deleting all my old backups, I just started the COMODO Backup program for a full backup of a 250G drive and, according to the status dialog, it says it will be done in another 23 days.

I think that's just because we're getting to know each other