Encrypting Backup Express Archives

amarpai

Hi,

I am evaluating PowerArchiver and find the PABE functionality extermely useful - especially to backup files to a FTP site. However, I am not able to encrypt the zip file as part of the script. I can set a password on the zip file, but this displays the contents of the archive and only prompts when extracting from archive.

Is there a way to zip, encrypt and ftp through a script using PowerArchiver?

Thanks,

Amarpai

davidsplash

Not Yet But There Will Be Soon Please Redo Thread In Wish List

spwolf

@amarpai:

Hi,

I am evaluating PowerArchiver and find the PABE functionality extermely useful - especially to backup files to a FTP site. However, I am not able to encrypt the zip file as part of the script. I can set a password on the zip file, but this displays the contents of the archive and only prompts when extracting from archive.

Is there a way to zip, encrypt and ftp through a script using PowerArchiver?

Thanks,

Amarpai

hi,

you can encrypt the file using zip aes encryption, it is only that the filenames are not hidden…

amarpai

Yes, I saw that feature. The problem is that file names are visible. Basically, we want to encrypt a large number of files in a directory structure so that it is not possible to even get a listing of the contents.

I have posted this request in the “Wish list” forum as well. Any idea when this particular feature will be available?

TBGBe

@amarpai:

Yes, I saw that feature. The problem is that file names are visible. Basically, we want to encrypt a large number of files in a directory structure so that it is not possible to even get a listing of the contents.

A quick (admittedly “dirty”) workaround is to Zip twice.

First, combine all directory structure into a single archive.
E.g. TAR or Zip using “store” (i.e. No compression).

Then Zip that archive using compression, encryption options required.

Thus the only name visible is that of the archive file.

amarpai

That’s a pretty good idea - think I will use it in the interim.

One other question…

What is the difference between the following:

Zipping a directory and then encrypting it using menu item.
Using a password while zipping.

The reason I ask this is because in the past, I have used WinZip and I was told that if you use a password while zipping, this password can easily be hacked.

Thanks in advance!

@TBGBe:

A quick (admittedly “dirty”) workaround is to Zip twice.

First, combine all directory structure into a single archive.
E.g. TAR or Zip using “store” (i.e. No compression).

Then Zip that archive using compression, encryption options required.

Thus the only name visible is that of the archive file.

TBGBe

@amarpai:

What is the difference between the following:

Zipping a directory and then encrypting it using menu item.

Using a password while zipping.

The reason I ask this is because in the past, I have used WinZip and I was told that if you use a password while zipping, this password can easily be hacked.

Thanks in advance!

Yes, the normal ZIP password is not very secure and you can find “cracking” utilities on the internet.

In this discussion thread, we are using encryption to refer to the “AES encryption” options for ZIP compression (as spwolf said).

Note: in PowerArchiver there is also “PA encryption” - this is also as secure as AES, but cannot be invoked from PA Backup Express Lite.

amarpai

The workaround was good enough - just purchased a copy and very pleased with it!!!

@TBGBe:

Yes, the normal ZIP password is not very secure and you can find “cracking” utilities on the internet.

In this discussion thread, we are using encryption to refer to the “AES encryption” options for ZIP compression (as spwolf said).

Note: in PowerArchiver there is also “PA encryption” - this is also as secure as AES, but cannot be invoked from PA Backup Express Lite.