Q: What
is NoteSafe?
A: NoteSafe is a text editor that has many
features in common with NotePad. You can open, edit, print,
and save files. The font style and size can be selected for
the entire document, but not for selected text within the
document. Like NotePad, you can open, edit, print, and close
small text files (*.TXT) that are readable by anybody. What
makes NoteSafe unique is that it allows you to work with
files that have been encrypted on your hard drive.
Encryption scrambles the data on the disk so that nobody can
tell what you have written. Files stored on the hard drive
this way are called TwoFish files (*.TFH). This is because
the TwoFish encryption algorithm is used to scramble the
information. The TFH file extension tells you that no
ordinary text editor can read them. It takes NoteSafe to
decrypt the files so you can see the contents, edit, print,
and save them again.
NoteSafe runs under Windows 95, 98, NT,
Win2K, and XP.
NoteSafe is shareware,
and must be registered
if you want to continue using the software beyond thirty
(30) days.
Q: Why is it
called NoteSafe?
A: It is called NoteSafe because it is like
putting your notes in a safe.
Q: What
is TwoFish?
A: TwoFish is a block cipher developed by Counterpane
Systems. It is their candidate for the new Advanced
Encryption Standard (AES). It is one of the five
finalists chosen by NIST
from a field of 15 candidates.
Q: How
do I use a pass phrase?
A: In order to keep the files secret, you need
to provide a pass phrase that only you know. Give the pass
phrase to NoteSafe by selecting the Key, Pass
Phrase command..
The pass phrase dialog will appear. Just type in your secret
pass phrase and press the OK button. The pass phrase is case
sensitive. So, be careful about using upper case and lower
case. If you do not use exactly the correct pass phrase
neither you nor anybody else will be able to recover your
files.
It is important to select a good pass phrase. It should be
simple for you to remember, but hard for anybody else to
guess. If you write the pass phrase down, somebody may find
it and be able to read your files. No software can provide
any protection if this happens. If you forget the pass
phrase, you will not be able to read your files. That is why
selecting your pass phrase is so important.
Q: How
do I get the security I need?
A: When you use NoteSafe to save your documents
as .TFH files, they are encrypted using strong cryptography.
The files on your disk will not be readable by anybody.
After you supply a pass phrase NoteSafe will be able to
decrypt the files and display all of the information in
them.
By default NoteSafe will ask you to enter the pass phrase
each time you run the program. You may also ask NoteSafe to
save an encrypted copy of the pass phrase on your hard drive
when you exit the program. It then reads and decrypts the
pass phrase the next time you load the program. This makes
it easy for you to always read your encrypted files, but
also makes it easy for other people with access to your
computer to read your files.
You should think about what kind of security you need. Are
you only encrypting files to send to others? Do you just
want to keep curious co-workers or family from reading your
files? Do you have very sensitive information that needs to
be protected from determined thieves? Do you need to protect
your data from high powered government computers? You can
set up NoteSafe to provide various levels of security,
depending on how you answer these questions. Read what Bruce
Schneier has to say about various
threats.
From the Key menu, you can check the Save Key
and/or Lock Key items. The various combinations
provide various levels of security.
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Save
Key
Lock Key