Using WindowsXP encryption with Quicken 2006

XP excryption is a per file cipher [or folder, which then encrypts entire contents]. Its good enough but there are better one's out there that give you much more control over the encryption. it has a ton of ills:

The freeware truecrypt blows it away easily.

BUT, you have to be willing to learn how to use TC. XP AES is easy to use, you just turn it on like a file attribute. TC is transportable between any Win version that runs it, compared to files made with XP Pro. Further, TC containers are usually hidden, so an intruder doesn't even know where or what the files are to hack them.

RWEmerson wrote in news:122bt0pmsp7cm97 @corp.supernews.com:

Thanks, JJ - most helpful!

welcome!

RWEmerson wrote in

I trust you're aware the Quicken implements an optional password scheme protection for their files? Perhaps not a 'strong' as hard triple-DES encryption and all that secret stuff I know nothing about, but more the adequate for the average user. Just pointing this out if you didn't already know.

Yes, thanks, I'm aware of that capability. Unfortunately, cracking that is trivial for the serious interloper.

Yes. I have equally very serious doubts about the degree of security in the Quicken files. This is now a very serious issue because:

The file names are well known. An application would simply have to find the directory, copy the file and send them. It need not be a distructive virus, but any form of spyware masquerading as free software.

If you steal key files [ I won't mention them here] and manage to open them, you can access very detailed information that can be used for ID theft, or use the files themselves to make payment and transactions, or crack further what the passwords are for the accounts of the owner are;

Quicken offers a fee service to break the password ... suggesting its either is easy to break or it has a backdoor;

if your computer is stolen, the thief has the files and maybe able to hack the data.

So, Truecrypt offers many many advantages to harden the data even more.

RWEmerson wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@corp.supernews.com: