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Question

securing sd memory card and/or its contents

by Mar 14, 2014 9:40PM PDT

I have a MICROMAX P650 Tablet. The Android version is 4.2.1. Internal memory is 1 GB and ROM is
16 GB. Memory card support is expandable upto 32 GB. I have added a memory card, Transcend 8GB, class 4.
I wish to have password protected folders or vaults in the Memory card. The following had been my efforts and results:
1. Password protected Zip folders (7Zip) in memory card do not open. I get the message, "File format is not supported".
2. I downloaded an app "Hide Files and Folders" and moved it to the memory card. While documents and picture files hidden in this app do open, videos and folders do not. And the message is that the File format is not supported.
3. I downloaded another app "EDS Lite"(another folder hiding app) but it could not be moved to the memory card. If I hide folders in this app, the files / folders would reside in Internal memory and NOT in the memory card. (This is, of course, my guess.)
3. I downloaded Truecrypt to my Win 7 Notebook, created a volume with password and moved it to Memory card. But the volume itself does not open - it says that the Password is incorrect. I also downloaded Truecrypt directly to the tablet's Internal memory. But I could not create a volume. Also tried the "Traveller mode" but no success.
My requirement is to password-protect FOLDERS stored in the Memory card (with or without encryption). The folders would contain docs, Pics, PPT and Videos. I should be able to open the folders and then the individual files. My preference would be to hide only the folders or vaults containing folders. If you would recommend password-protecting the entire memory card, that approach is also welcome.
Please help me with your advice. Remember I am a senior citizen and a NON-techie. Hence detailed and step-by-step guidance would help me. Thanks in advance and regards.
Natarajan, Chennai, India.

Discussion is locked

3 Posts
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Answer
Given the CIQ and non-secure OS why do this?
by Forum moderator Mar 15, 2014 2:38AM PDT

After you catch up with the Android CIQ Root Kit discussion you find this OS at it's heart is not secure. So while you may encrypt files you are using it on an insecure OS so all this is for naught.

In other words, the basic problem hasn't been addressed first.
Bob

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securing sd memory card and/or its contents
by msnataraj2003 Mar 15, 2014 8:50PM PDT

Thank you Bob. But as a lay person, I believe that the contents of the sd card are safe, once you remove it from the Tab. What I wish to ensure is that the sd card, if it falls in other's hands, should not be readable by them. But it should be readable in Android -- so that I can use it in my Tab, whenever I need.

Maybe, the files, once read by Android Tab, may leave their footprints in Android. (This is a non-techie's guess.) So long as these traces will NOT enable an ordinary user to read the files on the Tab, EVEN AFTER REMOVAL of the sd card, I do not care. We are not talking of protecting military grade secrets, but of ordinary data which we would like to keep private.

Hope to have your feed-back. Thanks.

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I think you understand enough to go further.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Mar 16, 2014 6:36AM PDT

The problem is that we have to include what folk call "kiddie scripts." These are tools and scripts that enable those that don't have the skill sets needed to accomplish what would have seemed impossible.

What I'm saying here is that while you may think you're secure from the average person, these tools make the average person capable of getting at what's on the card.

-> Let's step back a moment and say you are just wanting ANY security. That is, just so it's not files in the clear.

For that you would hit the Google Play store and look for such apps that add this. While the office is writing Android apps we haven't done any in-depth testing. And it may be that some work on most Androids but not all. Only you can do the test on your Android.
Bob

PS. Take a look at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.giraone.encmanlite

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