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Archive for the ‘passphrases’ Category

When it comes to the law, your information is only as secure as your encryption passphrase.

December 3rd, 2008

My computer is every hacker’s dream: chock-full of personal information that can be used in deliciously evil ways. Stored on my hard drive are electronic copies of my passport, previous tax returns, and a plethora of other files that contain sensitive information. If accessed, this information would allow someone to easily steal my identity or worse.

Don't Let This Be You

Thankfully, I encrypt those files (meaning the only person who has access to them is me). I am the only person that knows the encryption password (sometimes called a passphrase) used to decrypt my files for viewing. Without the password, the files cannot be accessed.

Hackers and personal information aside, let’s pretend the files I encrypted contain incriminating information. Hypothetically speaking, could someone use the law to force me to divulge my encryption password so they could access my files?

Read more…

email, encryption, government, law, passphrases, privacy , , ,

One More News Note!

December 20th, 2007

Cnet.com is running a news article on our fifth amendment rights entitled “Judge: Man Can’t be Forced to Divuldge Passphrase.” I thought this was noteworthy because, as I argued just last week, being forced to reveal passkeys is tantamount to self-incrimination.

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encryption, government, law, passphrases, passwords