What is encryption? And why encrypt?
When you send an email attachment to someone you want to be sure that no one other than the intended recipient can read it. Only one way to be sure - encrypt it. The attachment might be an incriminating image, a sensitive contract, or a valuable list of clients.
There is always the possibility that someone will intercept your email and steal your private or sensitive data or message. The email can be accessed at the server end too. And of course your computer might be infected with a trojan or other hostile program which can send out your files without you being aware of it.
Encoding the contents of an email attachments or files on your hard drive in such a way that hides its contents from outsiders is called encryption.
The process of retrieving, or opening, the content is called decryption. Encryption and decryption usually make use of a key, and the coding method is such that decryption can be performed only by having the proper key. A key, in this instance, means code which can be contained in a simple file. That code is totally unique for each user.
Encryption protects your computer data from physical attacks such as unauthorised staff or corporate spies. But for maximum security with encryption, you also need secure protocols as far as file management, computer access and file deletion is concerned.
Not much use encrypting your important files if deleted versions of the files can easily be recovered and read. One of the things you need is file wiping software. Visit some free download sites and you will find lots of these programs such as BCWipe.
Perhaps the best known and most widely used encryption software is PGP. And for most people it's free.
Did you know that even after you empty your recycle bin, indeed, even after you format your hard drive, much of the old data can still be recovered? Software to accomplish this is readily available on the internet and is easy to use.
What about Public Key Systems (PKS) or Digital Signatures?
Public keys permit you to encrypt your computer file for transmission by email or on media to a specific recipient so that only the recipient will be able to decrypt and read the file. You use the recipient's public key for this. Because you downloaded (or received it by email) and imported his public key into your PGP program, it ensures that you and the intended recipient are the ONLY two people that can ever decrypt the file. The recipient accepts and imports your public key the same way, then is able to send you data which only you will be able to decrypt.
How secure is data enrypted with PGP? Totally. When used correctly, it is impossible to decrypt your data unless you use your own private passkey.
No one, not even high government agencies such as ASIO or NSA or who knows what spy agency can decrypt your data.
On our site we offer secure encrypted communication through the use of PGP. You can download Michael Hessenthaler's PGP Public Key to encrypt email attachments intended for us. Don't worry, despite such a public display of an encryption key, it's of absolutely no use to anyone except us.
If you send us your PGP Public Key, then we use it to encrypt files to send to you. That way only you and no one else can decrypt and read the files.
You can download PGP encryption software free at PGP International website.
What network security is enough?
An article by Richard Wall, Modern Investigative Solutions»
Wireless Networking
Making it Secure - another article by Richard Wall»
Protecting yourself with firewalls - explained like no one else can - GRC Firewalls
Firewalls scoreboard - which is the best? Where to get it? GRC again
Free open-source disk encryption software for Windows Vista, XP, 2000, Linux
