Decryption of Word Docs

[one4thumb]

I have two files that are encrypted on my server. I recenty formated my notebook drive, the system that encrypted these files. I cannot decrypt thsse files now. Is their a program that will decrypt these files (Preferablely trial or free)?

What type of encryption would this be?

Thank You

 

[fumei]

1. Generally speaking, we do not discuss any type of cracking here. How do know anything about the real situation? Are they your files? We don't know, and can't know. So we do not discuss password breaking, or other types od security issues.

2. Let's analyze your post.

I have two files that are encrypted on my server. I recenty formated my notebook drive, the system that encrypted these files. I cannot decrypt thsse files now. Is their a program that will decrypt these files (Preferablely trial or free)?

a) Hmmm, you formatted your notebook, and on that notebook was the software that encrypted these files. Oh dear. Who is responsible fo that? You are.

b) Hmmm, you are asking about a trial or free software that will - Da Dah! - break into files you (supposedly) encrypted. Hmmm, why bother encrypting them? If anyone can just get trial or free software that will decrypt your files that easily...why bother in the first place????? Do that sounds like very secure encryption???

NOPE. So if you COULD get free software that will decrypt your encrypted files...doesn't say much for your encryption software.

FURTHER, if you had the encrypting software on your notebook, that would normally mean you have the original disks for that software....hmmmmm???? yes??????????

Then use that to reinstall the encrypting software. If you DO NOT have the original software, and you DID NOT back up that software, and you DID foolishly format the notebook without thinking about consequences...then....this may be a lesson learned hopefully.

Finally...

What type of encryption would this be?

This is a very very odd sentence. It is - supposedly - YOUR encryption software. Hmmmmm, why would you be asking what type it is? Don't you know??????

Gerry
My paintings and sculpture

 

[TonyJollans]

I agree with everything Gerry says .. except .. that I can see how your problem might arise and you might have deleted a decryption key without realising it when you reformatted your notebook.

As said, it was your encryption software - if it was any good you may not find a solution, but that really depends on what the software was and how you used it.

Enjoy,
Tony

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[fumei]

Ah, yes deleting the key could happen by "accident". Not really thinking about it.

And as Tony states, it really depends on how good your software was, and how you used it.

It it was any good, you SHOULD be out of luck.

Gerry
My paintings and sculpture

 

[one4thumb]

This issue for me has been pushed aside as I had other things come up.

Second I thought I had posted it but did not, I used Windows Explorer to encrypt the files.

Thirdly I have boot cds that I can use to change Windows administrator passwords. Their are programs to brute force ones way into Windows. WLAN ecryption can be cracked. Firewalls have security holes that allow hackers to break in. That is why credit card databases have to be behind multiple firewalls. Encryption can be reversed weather it be with a certificate or brute force or what ever. Why is a request like this so hard to understand.

Lastly I said the files are on the Server, the hard drive on the notebook (not the server) was formated. Why would I not beleive that the certificate would not been lost. If the certificte was delete with out formating I would still have the same problem. Aparently you guys do not work in the field day in and day out like I do.

When it comes to computers anything can be done, you just have to know how, or have the software to do it.

 

[fumei]

Second I thought I had posted it but did not, I used Windows Explorer to encrypt the files.

Look if you can't be sensible enough to state IN YOUR POST that you used the encryption from Windows Explorer - gee...duh...what else are we to think but that you used third party encryption software. If you do not state the fact...oh...sorry... I really AM a mind reader.

Did you use any of the advanced encryption plug-ins for Windows Explorer, or just the basic built-in one. Try to actually give a full answer. Thanks.

Oh, and...

Aparently you guys do not work in the field day in and day out like I do.

Actually, I do a fair amount in this area...I just don't delete certificates, or format hard drives without making sure everything is good.

Gerry
My paintings and sculpture

 

[fumei]

Mind you...I would never, EVER, use Windows Explorer to do encryption. I must apologize, that is why it did not occur to me that is what you used.

Gerry
My paintings and sculpture

 

[cmeagan656]

I agree with Gerry, never EVER use Windows Explorer to do encryption. However since you did, you can try copying or moving them to a NON NTFS volume. I don't have a problem with posting it here as a simple search for "encrypt files" in Help and Support would have produced the following in one of the articles.

Encrypted files can become decrypted if you copy or move the file to a volume that is not an NTFS volume.

You could also try the cipher command. It looks like it might do the trick too. I've never used either so I don't know if they work because I NEVER, EVER encrypt anything using Windows Explorer.

Cheeers

 

[fumei]

And there you go...copy them to a non-NTFS drive. Mind you...that may be hard to find...hahahahahaha.

Seriously though...so much for the encryption "security" of using Windows Explorer. Whoooooboy, now that makes it really difficult. I bet that has NSA running the ol' supercomputer....what?......0.00000000045 nanoseconds?

Aparently you guys do not work in the field day in and day out like I do.

Where do you work again?

Gerry
My paintings and sculpture

 

[cmeagan656]

If you can't find a non-NTFS drive but have a floppy drive (may be slightly easier to find) format a floppy and copy the files to the floppy. That's assuming the files aren't will overly large.

Cheers.

 

[tf1]

To add to complications, the latest laptops have much improved encrytption and use the TPM module to create the encrytpion key. I think that the files are well and truly right-offs.


Regards: tf1

 

[strongm]

Er ... I think I ought to just point out that copying Explorer-encrypted files to an non-NTFS volume does not in itself decrypt them.

What happens is that the file gets decrypted while being read off the disk and it is this decrypted version that can be stored on a non-NTFS volume (because the non-NTFS volume does not support encrypted files). However if, as the one4thumb has said, one had lost the necessary keys to decrypt the file then transferring them to non-NTFS will not recover them since Windows can no longer decrypt the files as it reads them off the source disk.

 

[strongm]

>I would never, EVER, use Windows Explorer to do encryption

I wouldn't go along with this; there's nothing wrong with NTFS' Encrypting File System, which is what it sounds like we are talking about, both from the original post and later comments. It uses DESX, which is more resilient than DES to differential and linear crytanalysis, and is dramatically more resilient to an exhaustive key search.

Sure, if you can get hold of one of the keys it becomes much easier - but that's only generally viable in a non-domain environment (and, sadly for the original poster, reformatting the non-domain machine would be a good way of protecting against that ...)

Nor will the cipher command help here.