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diff --git a/doc/html/Avoid Third-Party File Extensions.html b/doc/html/Avoid Third-Party File Extensions.html new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b339e780 --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/html/Avoid Third-Party File Extensions.html @@ -0,0 +1,85 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /> +<title>VeraCrypt - Free Open source disk encryption with strong security for the Paranoid</title> +<meta name="description" content="VeraCrypt is free open-source disk encryption software for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. In case an attacker forces you to reveal the password, VeraCrypt provides plausible deniability. In contrast to file encryption, data encryption performed by VeraCrypt is real-time (on-the-fly), automatic, transparent, needs very little memory, and does not involve temporary unencrypted files."/> +<meta name="keywords" content="encryption, security"/> +<link href="styles.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> +</head> +<body> + +<div> +<a href="Documentation.html"><img src="VeraCrypt128x128.png" alt="VeraCrypt"/></a> +</div> + +<div id="menu"> + <ul> + <li><a href="Home.html">Home</a></li> + <li><a href="/code/">Source Code</a></li> + <li><a href="Downloads.html">Downloads</a></li> + <li><a class="active" href="Documentation.html">Documentation</a></li> + <li><a href="Donation.html">Donate</a></li> + <li><a href="https://sourceforge.net/p/veracrypt/discussion/" target="_blank">Forums</a></li> + </ul> +</div> + +<div> +<p> +<a href="Documentation.html">Documentation</a> +<img src="arrow_right.gif" alt=">>" style="margin-top: 5px"> +<a href="Avoid%20Third-Party%20File%20Extensions.html">Avoid Third-Party File Extensions</a> +</p></div> + +<div class="wikidoc"> + <h1>Understanding the Risks of Using Third-Party File Extensions with VeraCrypt</h1> + <div> + <p>While VeraCrypt provides robust encryption capabilities to secure your data, using third-party file extensions for File Containers or Keyfiles could risk making the encrypted data inaccessible.<br /> + This guide provides an in-depth explanation of the associated risks, and it outlines recommendations for best practices to mitigate these risks.</p> + </div> + + <h2>Risks Associated with File Containers</h2> + <div> + <p>Using a third-party file extension for File Containers exposes you to several risks:</p> + <ul> + <li>Overwritten Metadata: Third-party applications may update their metadata, which could overwrite crucial parts of the File Container.</li> + <li>Unintentional Changes: Accidentally launching a File Container with a third-party application could modify its metadata without your consent.</li> + <li>Container Corruption: These actions could render the container unreadable or unusable.</li> + <li>Data Loss: The data within the container might be permanently lost if the container becomes corrupted.</li> + </ul> + </div> + + <h2>Risks Associated with Keyfiles</h2> + <div> + <p>Similar risks are associated with Keyfiles:</p> + <ul> + <li>Keyfile Corruption: Inadvertently modifying a Keyfile with a third-party application can make it unusable for decryption.</li> + <li>Overwritten Data: Third-party applications may overwrite the portion of the Keyfile that VeraCrypt uses for decryption.</li> + <li>Unintentional Changes: Accidental changes can make it impossible to mount the volume unless you have an unaltered backup of the Keyfile.</li> + </ul> + </div> + + <h2>Examples of Extensions to Avoid</h2> + <div> + <p>Avoid using the following types of third-party file extensions:</p> + <ul> + <li>Media Files: Picture, audio, and video files are subject to metadata changes by their respective software.</li> + <li>Archive Files: Zip files can be easily modified, which could disrupt the encrypted volume.</li> + <li>Executable Files: Software updates can modify these files, making them unreliable as File Containers or Keyfiles.</li> + <li>Document Files: Office and PDF files can be automatically updated by productivity software, making them risky to use.</li> + </ul> + </div> + + <h2>Recommendations</h2> + <div> + <p>For secure usage, consider the following best practices:</p> + <ul> + <li>Use neutral file extensions for File Containers and Keyfiles to minimize the risk of automatic file association.</li> + <li>Keep secure backups of your File Containers and Keyfiles in locations isolated from network access.</li> + <li>Disable auto-open settings for the specific file extensions you use for VeraCrypt File Containers and Keyfiles.</li> + <li>Always double-check file associations and be cautious when using a new device or third-party application.</li> + </ul> + </div> + +<div class="ClearBoth"></div></body></html> |