Installing Calibre Portable on Encrypted Drive

wayrad · 05-08-2015, 12:59 PM

Hi, I've done a search and looked at the manual and still can't find an answer to this. If someone could help me find a solution (or confirm that it's not possible), I'd really appreciate it.

I'm running Windows 7 and just bought a shiny new Sandisk flash drive which comes with their SecureAccessV2 software. It has its own front end that you are supposed to use to add files to the "vault". I was thinking it would be nice to have Calibre on there, so I've been messing around with trying to install Calibre Portable v 2.27.0. But that has its own installer, and installing to another location and trying to copy it to the vault in the manner required by the encryption program doesn't work (it appears to copy, but doesn't work afterwards). Is there any way to do this?

eschwartz · 05-08-2015, 02:43 PM

I've never tried installing calibre Portable on an encrypted drive, but I do know I wouldn't trust the bloatware they bundle on those drives. I usually delete it, but if I wanted to encrypt my drive I would use something like TrueCrypt.

TrueCrypt is an excellent piece of software, notwithstanding that the developer disappeared and tried to scare users away in suspicious circumstances. And the independent security audit, pending a final review, has been completed and passed.

fidvo · 05-08-2015, 04:15 PM

I can confirm Calibre Portable works on an external drive with TrueCrypt. I've been running it that way for years.

Once you have your drive encrypted with TrueCrypt, it mounts just like another drive, so you can install Calibre Portable there just fine.

The biggest drawback is how long it takes to initially encrypt the drive. Depending on the size of the drive and the speed of your computer, it might take several hours, although most of the process runs unattended (For full-drive encryption, I recommend letting it run overnight).

Make sure you go with TrueCrypt version 7.1a, NOT 7.2, which is insecure by design. (There are rumors as to why it's insecure, but suffice it to say that even the creators of TrueCrypt say you should not install 7.2)

eschwartz · 05-08-2015, 04:36 PM

That is why I linked to Steve Gibson's Security article on TrueCrypt, which gives a nice rundown on the general state of things and offers independently-verifiable archives of 7.1a

.

wayrad · 05-08-2015, 07:52 PM

Thanks folks! I would definitely prefer TrueCrypt, which I've used in the past... but then there was all the weirdness, and after that I got sick and didn't keep up with things much for most of the last year (All better now. Or so they tell me). I will go read the links now...

eschwartz · 05-08-2015, 08:58 PM

So instead you decided to trust the random schmoes at Sandisk.

wayrad · 05-09-2015, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

So instead you decided to trust the random schmoes at Sandisk.

Nah, don't trust them either, but I'm just playing around, not storing my super secret personal info (although I'd like a little security for my purchased-but-no-longer-DRM'd books, given my propensity to mislay flash drives).

And at least Sandisk wasn't deliberately going out of their way to make me NOT trust them, so when I found it on the drive it seemed worth a try. Truecrypt would definitely be better if still reliable, though . Last I had heard was when everyone was still speculating they had been forced to build in a back door, and if one had existed it would probably have been thoroughly exploited by now. But it sounds like it was all just an "If I can't have her, nobody will!" gesture by the developers.

Gonna reread the user manual this morning...darn, I'd forgotten that nasty learning curve. Once it's set up it shouldn't be too bad though.

darryl · 05-09-2015, 07:12 AM

I have been using encfs for some time with success. There are versions for Windows.c I haven't tried Calibre Portable at all but confirm that there are no problems accessing an encrypted library. I too steer well clear of these bundled commercial encryption products.

wayrad · 05-09-2015, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darryl

I have been using encfs for some time with success. There are versions for Windows.c I haven't tried Calibre Portable at all but confirm that there are no problems accessing an encrypted library. I too steer well clear of these bundled commercial encryption products.

Thanks, will check it out.

eschwartz · 05-10-2015, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayrad

Nah, don't trust them either, but I'm just playing around, not storing my super secret personal info (although I'd like a little security for my purchased-but-no-longer-DRM'd books, given my propensity to mislay flash drives).

And at least Sandisk wasn't deliberately going out of their way to make me NOT trust them, so when I found it on the drive it seemed worth a try. Truecrypt would definitely be better if still reliable, though . Last I had heard was when everyone was still speculating they had been forced to build in a back door, and if one had existed it would probably have been thoroughly exploited by now. But it sounds like it was all just an "If I can't have her, nobody will!" gesture by the developers.

Gonna reread the user manual this morning...darn, I'd forgotten that nasty learning curve. Once it's set up it shouldn't be too bad though.

Fair enough.

The good news is that it does indeed seem to be the case that the developer bailed and wanted his software to die with him.

05-08-2015, 12:59 PM	#1
wayrad Fanatic Posts: 551 Karma: 1121392 Join Date: May 2008 Location: USA Device: HTC One M8	Installing Calibre Portable on Encrypted Drive Hi, I've done a search and looked at the manual and still can't find an answer to this. If someone could help me find a solution (or confirm that it's not possible), I'd really appreciate it. I'm running Windows 7 and just bought a shiny new Sandisk flash drive which comes with their SecureAccessV2 software. It has its own front end that you are supposed to use to add files to the "vault". I was thinking it would be nice to have Calibre on there, so I've been messing around with trying to install Calibre Portable v 2.27.0. But that has its own installer, and installing to another location and trying to copy it to the vault in the manner required by the encryption program doesn't work (it appears to copy, but doesn't work afterwards). Is there any way to do this?

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05-08-2015, 02:43 PM	#2
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	I've never tried installing calibre Portable on an encrypted drive, but I do know I wouldn't trust the bloatware they bundle on those drives. I usually delete it, but if I wanted to encrypt my drive I would use something like TrueCrypt. TrueCrypt is an excellent piece of software, notwithstanding that the developer disappeared and tried to scare users away in suspicious circumstances. And the independent security audit, pending a final review, has been completed and passed.

05-08-2015, 04:15 PM	#3
fidvo Addict Posts: 309 Karma: 1645952 Join Date: Jun 2012 Device: none	I can confirm Calibre Portable works on an external drive with TrueCrypt. I've been running it that way for years. Once you have your drive encrypted with TrueCrypt, it mounts just like another drive, so you can install Calibre Portable there just fine. The biggest drawback is how long it takes to initially encrypt the drive. Depending on the size of the drive and the speed of your computer, it might take several hours, although most of the process runs unattended (For full-drive encryption, I recommend letting it run overnight). Make sure you go with TrueCrypt version 7.1a, NOT 7.2, which is insecure by design. (There are rumors as to why it's insecure, but suffice it to say that even the creators of TrueCrypt say you should not install 7.2)

05-08-2015, 04:36 PM	#4
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	That is why I linked to Steve Gibson's Security article on TrueCrypt, which gives a nice rundown on the general state of things and offers independently-verifiable archives of 7.1a .

05-08-2015, 07:52 PM	#5
wayrad Fanatic Posts: 551 Karma: 1121392 Join Date: May 2008 Location: USA Device: HTC One M8	Thanks folks! I would definitely prefer TrueCrypt, which I've used in the past... but then there was all the weirdness, and after that I got sick and didn't keep up with things much for most of the last year (All better now. Or so they tell me). I will go read the links now...

05-08-2015, 08:58 PM	#6
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	So instead you decided to trust the random schmoes at Sandisk.

05-09-2015, 07:12 AM	#8
darryl Wizard Posts: 3,108 Karma: 60231510 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura H2O, Kindle Oasis, Huwei Ascend Mate 7	I have been using encfs for some time with success. There are versions for Windows.c I haven't tried Calibre Portable at all but confirm that there are no problems accessing an encrypted library. I too steer well clear of these bundled commercial encryption products.

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