SynCrypt 1.1

SynCrypt 1.1 from SynData Technologies provides email and file encryption and more. Its workgroup features, ability to work with most Windows applications, and ease of use set it apart from other encryption products. SynCrypt supports various digital security and data encryption features: In addition to file and email encryption, it can encrypt selected portions of a document with Bikini encryption or use steganography to hide an encrypted file within a graphics file. SynCrypt also includes several mechanisms for exchanging cryptography keys, supports digital signatures, and simplifies secure management of user IDs and passwords.

SynCrypt Setup
Installing SynCrypt was a breeze. The setup program uses a standard Windows installation wizard that ran in less than 3 minutes. The wizard presents you with the typical screens to approve the license terms and specify an installation directory. The only other question the wizard asks you is whether you want to point to a shared LAN directory where users can share keys.

SynCrypt expects to find Windows Dial-Up Networking (DUN) running on your computer, even if you have a full-time Internet connection. Unfortunately, the documentation doesn't mention this requirement. Without DUN installed, SynCrypt displays a series of cryptic error messages when you try to send a public key to someone via email.

The installation program creates a SynCrypt program group under Windows 95 and Windows 3.x. However, the documentation fails to mention that the program doesn't create a SynCrypt program group for Windows NT. Instead, the software creates a shortcut folder at %systemroot%\startmenu\programs\syncrypt. To add a SynCrypt program group to the NT Start menu, you must move this folder to %systemroot%\profiles\all users\start menu\programs.

During the installation process, SynCrypt associates its .syn file type with the syncrypt.exe program. By default, SynCrypt assigns this file type to encrypted files, digitally signed files, and public or private keys you email to other users sending or receiving encrypted files. When you double-click a .syn file, SynCrypt recognizes the file type and decrypts, verifies, or adds the encryption keys as appropriate. After you install SynCrypt on your network, you can publish your public keys to a shared directory so that other users in your workgroup can access the keys.

How Safe Is Your Private Key?
To use SynCrypt, you have to log on with a user ID and passphrase, just as you would with any secured system or application. SynCrypt creates a portable copy of your user ID, so you can take it with you to use from your home or laptop computer. As an added security option, SynCrypt lets you specify an inactivity timeout, after which time the software logs you out.

Your passphrase is a critical component of the security process. Without it, you can't access your encrypted data. Acknowledging the imperfection of human memory, SynCrypt includes a procedure to help you recover a forgotten passphrase. SynCrypt gives you a list of 75 personal questions, such as "What was the last name of the first person you had a crush on?" and "What city did your oldest aunt live in when you were growing up?" You select 27 of these questions, as Screen 1 shows, and supply the answers. To recover your passphrase, you must correctly answer 25 of the 27 questions. From the nature of the questions, only a psychic or an FBI investigator could obtain your passphrase.

SynCrypt also supports group keys that let any member of an authorized group encrypt and decrypt information. When you add a new member to a group, SynCrypt sends the group keys to that person so that the software can add the group information to the person's key file. After you set up the group, members can share secured files and documents without worrying about other prying eyes.

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