Multiple computers

pjbatra

I am considering buying the paid version of this software, but I just want to understand one thing, when I add a file (or folder?) to the boxcrypt drive (e.g. X drive)and it encrypts directly to my dropbox account, this is all happening on one computer which is the limit for the free version. So I understood that the file name is not encrypted in dropbox on the free version, but let me ask this since I understand how to mount and add to the boxcrypt drive: once the file is on the drive, and "transfered" to my dropbox account, can I access this file when I am lets say 10000 miles away without my boxcrypt (free version) installed computer or nothing else but my dropbox password? If not, what do I need- do I need to buy the paid version, and/or do I need to keep some kind of flash drive with me with the software, or can I just make a portable version of the software when I am 10000 miles away and I have say an empty flash drive. If I get a clear answer to this, I am going to buy this software immediately. But I just want to really know how to access these dropbox encrypted files when I do not have anything but my dropbox password- or if that is possible---with the paid version....Thanks

Geronimo

Simply speaking, Dropbox works like a mirror, whatever you put in its dedicated local folder on computer A is syncronized to the cloud and then also mirrored to computer B , C etc (using the same dropbox account). In effect all linked computers and the cloud 'dropbox' contain the same data.
Boxcryptor just adds a security layer , it encrypts the data locally before it's going to be 'uploaded' the the cloud and mirrored to computer B and C etc.
The free version encrypts the content only, the full version can in addition also scramble the filename.

In any case, if you encrypt sth using Boxcryptor on computer A you'll need of course also a version (free/paid / portable) on a second PC in order to _use_ (= decrypt) the files syncronized via Dropbox.
Not quite sure but I suspect that the free version is able to _decrypt_ scrambled filenames correctly even if it doesn't offer filename encryption.

pjbatra

Ok, so I am 10000 miles away, I have a computer in front of me and I need to open a very important file located in dropbox that was encrypted by boxcryptor- simply-- what do I do to open that file if it is say in Word, Excel, or pdf format, would I have to verify that those programs are on that foreign computer and then just click on the file? and further, when will it or will it at all prompt me for at he boxcryptor password ---or is the security only applied by the dropbox account password. Because if the file name is not encrypted, then, if someone did have my dropbox password, could they see the file and open it given they have the needed program on thier computer? where is the security there- in reality, the only thing that protects the encrypted file is the dropbox password, am I correct or am i wacky in my logic?

Geronimo

Nope. Using Dropbox and Boxcryptor you'd need two passwords in order to open your file on a foreign computer, firstly the Dropbox one (which makes your file physically present (but still encrypted) there, and the Boxcryptor one.
If you were transfering a file 'CIA Addressbook.doc' (encrypted with no filename encryption [free version]) anyone only having your Dropbox password could try to open
with Word but would see only meaningless garbage data.
The full version optionally can also make the filename look like hQ41dzbvkv75yFc3, so
that there's no indication about the content at all.
Again, in both cases you'd need Boxcryptor and the password you used for encryption in order to see the unencrypted content [+ original filename]. After having entered your Boxcryptor password you can click on the file as if it was unencrypted and open.
At that moment the file remains encrypted on your harddisk but Boxcryptor decrypts it to your computer's memory so that Word etc will 'see' the original content.
In general you always need an application supporting your filetype installed (or portable] for PDF, Word, Excel.

pjbatra

Your answer is very impressive and you answered everything I need, except this is one thing that I think I saw happen- when I accessed my dropbox folder on another computer, (as all of us, I literally have ten + computers)- I saw everything you are saying, free version wise, EXCEPT, when I clicked on the encrypted file (and I do have the respective program installed)- there was no prompt for a password, does that sound right to you? Or am I doing something wrong. I know there is an option to remember password, but I unchecked that, so I have troubleshooted this issue with some attempts, can you guide me as to what you think is not prompting a boxcrypt password window?

joejaz

I have same problem,using free version, but I DO NOT see an option to remember password?

It would be safer to require user to enter password every time you mount BC drive, as True Crypt does, I notice BC will auto mount, that means anyone who has access can auto mount BC drive

pjbatra

When you set up the drive- there is a check box that says to remember password- I think that is advised to be unchecked. But when I open the file from the dropbox Boxcrypt folder, it just tries to open the file, no password to decrypt- so it just opens unencrypted- which is of no use to me in the example I noted in the thread above. Geronimo was accurate with everything they said- but I am still lacking on the remote access issue where I exampled that I was 10000 miles away with nothing but a foriegn computer that has lets say adobe reader, and I have a crucial pdf file encrypted on the dropbox bc folder- if that file is encrypted, then first- how do you unencrypt it at all- and further- is it password enabled. I am still not understanding this as I did this again very controlled and the file was encrypted within the dropbox bc folder and when I tried to open it, it just opened encrypted- no password- cant see the contents- I must be doing something wrong or setting it up wrong. By the way- I guess your suggestion about not automounting is logical if others use your computer, but I am the only one who uses mine so auto mounting is Ok for me- I guess?

joejaz

Your using free version?
So when YOU set up your drive you left it unchecked and it STILL opens unencrypted?

pjbatra

Yes that is correct. It still opens unencrypted serving no purpose. FYI for the 45 bucks- as I wrote the last thread to you, I just bought the paid version to see if it works as it should- I am still waiting for the answer to my above thread from someone and in the meanwhile I am waiting for the download from digital river- for some reason there is some paypal delay.

joejaz

pjbatra,does the paid version work as it should?

David R.

Hello pjbarta,

concerning your 1000 miles question. You could either use a chrome portable dev build together with our chrome plugin (you'll find infos here: https://www.boxcryptor.com/labs/)
or you could use our portable version (you can store it also on your dropbox then you can download and launch it when you need it)

Automounting is okay for most of the users since our drive is per default only visible for your user.

Best regards,
David

pjbatra

I have purchased the unlimited version. It seems to work as expected but as David R. has mentioned a google chrome plug in- when I tried to install that on my computer from the lab website. Unfortunately, it said that I could not install extensions, etc. from this website. Is there a fix for this? Do you know why this plugin is also not even available in the chrome extension store- or is it? I tried a search, no luck.

Re my other example of accessing my (now paid version) boxcryptor files from my dropbox account 10000 miles away-where can i download the proper portable version and in addition to installing it on my dropbox account, can I use it via a USB flash drive as well. How would that work. I am almost at the end of my questions for this product, but these last clarifications would be appreciated.

David R.

Hello pbjatra,

for the chrome plugin make sure, that you have a dev channel build since we use a feature which isn't yet provided in the stable build. You can get it here

http://www.chromium.org/getting-involved/dev-channel

You can also google for a portable chrome dev channel version if you want to use it wherever you are.

Then download the plugin file to your Download folder. Open the extensions page in Chrome (chrome://extensions/) and drag & drop the plugin there. Now follow the dialog showing up and you're ready to go.

Since we need the dev channel, we haven't yet submitted our software to the chrome webstore.

If you use the portable version together with an usb stick to use it for example in an internet cafe, I would create a folder on the Usb Stick (i.e. Encrypted or Temp or something) and copy the .encfs6.xml file from your BoxCryptor.bc folder to it. Now you can donwload single files and put them in this folder. To decrypt them open the folder with the BoxCryptor portable app.

Thank you for the purchase!
Best regards,
David

pjbatra

Hi Dave- I had caught all that before and tried to install chrome with the dev channel build- i understood all that-and I had learned about where to put it, but for some reason, it was not giving me an option to dowload the plugin at all. Maybe I was doing something wrong, but as advanced as I think I am- I just need a step by step to install this plugin.
Also- please explain the different things you are speaking of- Are there three of them---there is a google chrome extension, a google chrome PORTABLE version? and a boxcryptor postable version as well? So there are three tools to use for boxcyptor? Thanks

pjbatra

Sorry Dave- I got the first part done with your instructions- but please answer the second para of my last post. Thanks

pjbatra

I am experimenting successfully with boxcryptor features- as I learn, sorry I have to ask questions piecemeal- but this is what I want to know at this stage: I understood how to use the boxcryptor for google chrome- again, is there a portable version for this? Second- just for clarification, when I use boxcryptor for chrome with dropbox, I can add any file into the boxcryptor folder I have created, understood. But now how does that interact with the actual boxcryptor drive(s) I have created on my local computer? I am assuming that when you add from chrome, it does not add to the local drive and that file is only accessible through the dropbox website-so that is not the same as adding a file to the boxcrytor local whereby the file is added to the boxcrytor file is automatically added to the dropbox boxcyptor folder. But that file is available for decryption in the dropbox folder. So dropbox can be a central area to add from the computer and from chrome. Is my thinking correct.
Lastly, now that I have everything encrypted, and I know how to add it and what would be in the dropbox folder, my example of using portable applications to decrypt anything in my dropbox folder- what would you suggest I use as a reliable and most versatile method- like I am 10000 miles away, I have no computer with my Google chrome installed, in fact I am using a foreign computer that I have never used before in my life. I ask the owner of the computer if he has word, or acrobat reader installed, etc. He says yes, now I want to show him an encrypted document in my dropbox folder- how do I do it. Ok, given that scenario, now I have a tiny 16gb flash drive with me, what should I install in that flash drive to help me do the same. Sorry for the long question, but I am on my way to resolving this and since I am now a paid licensed user, I want to make sure I am not stuck overseas without access to my encrypted folders because of something I did not take in account. Thanks

pjbatra

I have understood everything about boxcryptor except how to decrypt my files when I am on another computer 10000 miles away. Please explain: I log into my dropbox account, I have a boxcrypt folder with my encrypted files. How do I decrypt them if I have loaded boxcrypt portable version on the dropbox account directly as David R. mentioned. I am still confused as to how to access those files if they are still encrypted. Its not so straight forward as I have figured out all the other questions I have myself. Thanks

mattj88

Did you ever find a solution to being able to "decrypt" a file from a remote computer? I would like to do the same thing now, but I'm afraid to even install boxcryptor on my second computer...last time I tried I cross encrypted files and I could never decrypt them again.

Hoping that I can install it and connect to an existing Google Drive that I have encrypted with boxcryptor on my first computer. :)

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