Problem with dsCrypt

[HoppaLong]

Despite the risk of a USB stick being lost or stolen I have never used encryption
software. There are too many extremely negative reviews about encrypted
data being lost forever because the software damaged files during the encryption
process, making it impossible to decrypt.

A friend has used the same portable app called dsCrypt for years with no problems.
He convinced me to try dsCrypt. It's very easy to use and seemed to work with
no problems. Well, the worst has happened!

I've got three text files that I've encrypted and decrypted many times with dsCrypt.
About one hour ago I attempted to decrypt these files. I'm getting a "Data is Invalid"
message box. I fear that dsCrypt has destroyed these files, which is the reason I
avoided all encryption software.

The extention "dsc" is added to all files encrypted with dsCrypt, but changing the
filename or extention has no effect on the encryption or decryption process.

If you understand this type of software I would appreciate any suggestions. If these
three text files are lost forever, I will never use encryption software again.

[jaclaz]

Well, you cannot really attribute for sure the fault to dscrypt.

 

It is possible that it is actually the culprit, but a whole lot of other possibilities exist, including "permanent" issues in the actual hardware (a usb stick if I get it right) or "transient" ones (at the time the files were written) which could e attributed as well to the hardware, but also to the drivers or more generally to the OS or filesystem.

 

As always the issue is the lack of a "plan B" (B stays for Backup ) which is always a good idea, it is very  important when managing "unreliable" (no offence intended to all the good guys that make USB sticks, of course) media^[*] and even more so when dealing with encrypted data. 

 

The whole point that the good guys that make encryption software and the users of such tools often miss (because it is outside their "main" scope of securing contents) is that the file format (like *all* binary formats, but much more than average with encrypted files) is intrinsically extremely fragile, a single byte (actually bit) corruption, for any reason, and bam, you have nothing at all   

 

So the next step would be to make a dd-like image of the stick "as is" (better if two, one to work on and one as backup) and then first check if the issue is in the actual media or filesystem, but - to be honest - unless it is a trivial issue in the filesystem, there are very little chances that the contents of the file can be recovered. 

 

jaclaz

 

 

 

^[*]If you think about it, they are extremely reliable, but essentially you carry all day long in a pocket together with keys, coins and *what not*  a teeny tiny device, that is thus subject to each and every possible mechanical shock as sometimes it falls on the floor, which open connector may be contaminated by *any* kind of dust, that you insert periodically in any (low) powered USB outlet you can find and that can happen to be "surprise" disconnected or machine washed together with your trousers etc., etc., as a matter of fact it is IMHO a miracle that these little devices tend to work notwithstanding the tortures to which they are subject.

[HoppaLong]

jaclaz, I really appreciate your thoughtful reply. Thank you!

When I built my first computer from an article in an electronics hobby
magazine many years ago, I started thinking about backing up data.

You cannot imagine how foolish I feel. To my friends and business
partners I'm the guy who constantly gets upset when they fail to
backup everything. It's probably been 20 years or more since I
screwed up in such a big way!

All my USB flash drives are stored in a hardshell and fully padded case.
Definitely not in my pocket.

I realize the internet could not exist without encryption. For my own
personal files, I've always had a creepy feeling about scrambling data
and then hoping it will be successfully restored over and over.

I won't mention the names of any encryption apps, but I just read another
scathing review on CNET from someone who downloaded a popular
encryption app. There are a lot of folks who lost files using these apps.

jaclaz, I'm sure you're correct about all the possible causes of file corruption,
besides the encryption app itself. I don't carry my flash drives around like
a bunch of pocket change. The problem is, what difference does it make?

I still can't believe I encrypted three important files with no backup. I haven't
mentioned what happened to my friend who recommended dsCrypt, and
I never will.

[jaclaz]

I still can't believe I encrypted three important files with no backup. I haven't

mentioned what happened to my friend who recommended dsCrypt, and

I never will.

No prob whaetever , I am sending him a link to this thread .

 

 

jaclaz