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File Permissions

[Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 108
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in PC & Mac Hardware and Software #1
I have a new external hard disk drive. I have been trying to set up file permissions, so that if I loose the HDD, personal data will be secure.

I have managed to successfully allow my home computer account to access all the relevant documents. I then tested this out on my laptop, and as I wanted, I was unable to access any documents.

However, on my laptop, I found that I can just 'take ownership' of the files. I didn't require any security checks, it just changed the owner to my laptop, and I had access to everything.

Is there a way of stopping this from happening? I have tried changing the permissions of the group 'Everyone' and denied access to changing ownership, but this hasn't prevented the problem.

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    CruachanCruachan Posts: 7,211
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    #2
    If you wish to secure against unauthorised access in the event of the loss of the external HDD, you'll need to encrypt it with an appropriately strong algorithm.
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    [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 108
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    #3
    Cruachan wrote: »
    If you wish to secure against unauthorised access in the event of the loss of the external HDD, you'll need to encrypt it with an appropriately strong algorithm.

    I have an Acer computer, and it has software pre-installed with an encrypter/decrypter. However, this takes a long time to encrypt and decrypt, so I thought that file permissions would be a quicker way around it.
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    CruachanCruachan Posts: 7,211
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    #4
    Jmes wrote: »
    I have an Acer computer, and it has software pre-installed with an encrypter/decrypter. However, this takes a long time to encrypt and decrypt, so I thought that file permissions would be a quicker way around it.

    As you've discovered, whichever computer you attach the drive to can be used to administer the permissions if the user has the appropriate privileges.
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    chiller15chiller15 Posts: 4,194
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    #5
    Invisi-Bump.
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    [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 108
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    #6
    Cruachan wrote: »
    As you've discovered, whichever computer you attach the drive to can be used to administer the permissions if the user has the appropriate privileges.

    Well I can encrypt the files using my Acer software, however on my laptop it doesn't have the same software to decrypt. Are there any decent software packages which can help me?
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    [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 108
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    #7
    chiller15 wrote: »
    Invisi-Bump.

    What's this chiller15?
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    max99max99 Posts: 9,002
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    #8
    TrueCrypt - free, effective and well tested.
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    mogwaimogwai Posts: 886
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    #9
    +1 for Truecrypt - it'll be able to encrypt the entire volume, or you can create a Truecrypt file on the drive.
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    [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 108
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    #10
    Does this require the TrueCrypt software to be installed on every computer I need to access the encrypted files on?
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    user123456789user123456789 Posts: 16,589
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    #11
    Jmes wrote: »
    Does this require the TrueCrypt software to be installed on every computer I need to access the encrypted files on?

    Yes, but it's no big deal installing only takes a few seconds or you can run TrueCrypt from a Flash Drive.
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