RE: Stolen laptops and the Windows encrypted file system?

["Richard M. Smith" <rms () bsf-llc com>]

Another solution would be to allow people to store their EFS encryption keys
on a separate device such as a USB flash drive.
 
I also believe that an encrypted folder on a portable hard drive would be
safe if it is carried separatly from a laptop which holds the EFS encryption
keys.
 
Richard

  _____  

From: ahmad.elkhatib () gmail com [mailto:ahmad.elkhatib () gmail com] On Behalf
Of Ahmad Elkhatib
Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2006 5:14 AM  
To: Valdis.Kletnieks () vt edu
Cc: Richard M. Smith; funsec () linuxbox org
Subject: Re: [funsec] Stolen laptops and the Windows encrypted file system?


EFS is very easily breakable since its tied to the operating system. What
you will need is a pre-boot authentication and full disk encryption. Many
companies have that such as Pointsec, Safeboot, and Utimaco. 

Windows Vista has a beefed up version of EFS called BitLocker which i
beleive will be part of the enterprise edition. However from comments that
have been made from MS officials it seems like there will be some sort of
master key or backdoor to break it. 

-Ahmad 


On 3/28/06, Valdis.Kletnieks () vt edu <Valdis.Kletnieks () vt edu
<mailto:Valdis.Kletnieks () vt edu> > wrote: 

On Tue, 28 Mar 2006 13:23:03 EST, "Richard M. Smith" said:
> The EnCase product description is silent on how it gets encryption keys.
> It's possible that it must be supplied with keys to do the decrypt.

It's tied to the user's login password - which is known to be easily
guessable 
or crackable a lot of the time.  Remember, if you're at the point where
you're
using EnCase on a box, it's assumed you have access to all the password
hashes too.

So it's a very short detour to Rainbow, and then it's Game Over.... 


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