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How can I encrypt my TntConnect database?

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First published by:
Troy Wolbrink
on 24 Aug 2017
Last revision by:
Troy Wolbrink
on 4 Apr 2019
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How can I encrypt my TntConnect database?

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We recommend a good disk encryption utility to protect not only your TntConnect database, but your entire computer.  If your goal is to protect sensitive donor data, keep in mind that TntConnect is not the only place sensitive information is stored.  You may have an offline email program, such as Outlook or Mac Mail, with sensitive donor information as well as documents or spreadsheets.  This all needs to be protected, and if you encrypt your entire hard drive, everything on your computer is protected including your TntConnect database.

Keep in mind that your TntConnect database is a single file on your computer.  If you are not sure where your database file is located, under the "Help" menu, click on "View System Info".  The location and name of your database file is listed at the top.  This is the file you'd want to ensure is physically located on an encrypted drive.  You would have to move the file using Windows Explorer or Mac Finder.  After moving the file, double-click on it to open it in TntConnect.


What disk encryption technologies are recognized by TntConnect?

FileVault (Mac OS X)
FileVault is built into the Mac OS X operating system.  If you're on a Mac, this is the recommended way to go.

BitLocker (Windows)
If you're on Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 8 Pro, or Windows 10 Pro, you can use BitLocker, built into the Windows operating system.

VeraCrypt (Windows, Mac OS X, Linux)
A well tested and free option that works on Windows, Mac OS X, and even Linux.  VeraCrypt can encrypt your entire hard drive.  VeraCrypt can also creates a virtual encrypted disk within a file and mounts it as a real disk.

 


What about Dropbox?

If you're concerned about privacy with your files in Dropbox, we'd recommend Boxcryptor to ensure that all your sensitive files are encrypted before they leave your computer and upload to the cloud.


Where can I find more information?

An alternative for Linux (gocryptfs):
   Dropbox & Encryption on Linux

A resource to explore additional options is:
   https://www.cloudwards.net/best-truecrypt-alternative-services/

Recent Comments

By: Eberhard Posted on 20 Feb 2018 11:47 AM

Any suggestions for Linux? Boxcryptor doesn't work there without manual intervention, and I'd like to keep the automatic Dropbox conflict resolution that TntConnect implements.

It's a pity that the built-in encryption got removed from TntConnect...

By: Troy Wolbrink Posted on 25 Apr 2018 3:52 PM

Hi Eberhard, Boxcryptor offers a "Portable" version for Linux:  www.boxcryptor.com/.../update-boxcryptor-portable  I tested conflict resolution with Boxcryptor, and TntConnect recognized conflict files just as if you're using Dropbox directly.  Was your experience different?  If so, report this on the forums, and let me know the name of your database file and the name of your conflict file(s), so I can update TntConnect to recognize the conflict files.  --Troy

By: Eberhard Posted on 28 May 2018 10:59 AM

Boxcryptor Portable has one big drawback according to the docs (www.boxcryptor.com/.../portable):

> The portable version has limited support for editing files: Changes to files are not tracked automatically by Boxcryptor Portable. If you open a file, change the content, and save it back, Boxcryptor Portable cannot synchronize these changes. Instead you must store the file locally and manually re-upload the file to your provider.

> Therefore, we do not recommend to use Boxcryptor Portable if you plan to work with your files regularly.

This basically makes it useless for use with TntConnect.

By: Eberhard Posted on 28 May 2018 2:54 PM

It looks like gocryptfs (nuetzlich.net/gocryptfs) will work when the encrypted directory gets initialized with -plaintextnames.

By: Troy Wolbrink Posted on 5 Jun 2018 4:06 PM

Thanks for letting me know about the limitations of Boxcryptor portable, Eberhard.  That's a major issue.  I'll stop suggesting it!  :)  Let me know how your testing of nuetzlich.net/gocryptfs goes.

By: Eberhard Posted on 15 Jun 2018 2:45 PM

Gocryptfs works very well. I'm using it for over two weeks now and haven't run into any issues (other than forgetting to mount the drive, i.e. forgetting to start gocryptfs :-) )

By: Troy Wolbrink Posted on 18 Jun 2018 1:12 AM

The next update for TntConnect (3.5.10) will recognize gocryptfs.

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