Re: SEEK: freeware to decrypt password-protected Winzip files
de Ari Silverstein 06/23/2006 08:55
On Tue, 20 Jun 2006 13:41:23 +0100, Franklin wrote:
> On 20 Jun 2006, Terry<noemail@none.invalid> wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 20 Jun 2006 02:38:32 +0100, Franklin <franksays@nomail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>I use Winzip ($$$ware) to encrypt personal files so that they are
>>>safe when transitted over the net.
>>>
>>>Some recipients cannot open these files even though they have the
>>>password.
>>>
>>>Which freeware which can open Winzip encypted files? And which
>>>method of encryption (performed by Winzip) can they decrypt?
>>>
>>>Winzip can encrypt using:
>>>(a) Zip 2.0
>>>(b) 128-bit AES
>>>(3) 256-bit AES.
>>
>> The only one of those that is generally supported is zip 2.0
>> encryption. Many (most?) freeware can open those.
>>
>> The AES encryption is pretty much Winzip only -- I don't know of
>> any freeware that will open them. Note that some of your recipients
>> may be opening these files using the builti in zip-file handling of
>> Windows XP. This will handle zip 2.0 passwords only, and they may
>> be reluctant to install any additional zip program, whether
>> freeware or not.
>
> I tried FILZIP which claims to be able to decrypt AES but it does not
> work well. These recipients are not computer-savvy and would
> struggle if the needed to massage the results.
>
>>
>> <OT>
>> Winzip can create self-extracting exe files, that use AES
>> encryption. This would let you use the stronger encryption, but not
>> require any zip program on the recipient's system. Essentially you
>> are sending them the decryption program along with your data.
>> </OT>
>
> Yes, I had been thinking about this but I get the feeling that
> getting my self-extracting EXE past the recipient's security might be
> hard. (I suppose I could, errr, zip up the EXE file!)
If you user uses Gmail, Gmail won't take zipped files. If you user's email
or ISP dislikes .exe files, you're screwed again.
You will need to find a solution that creates the file not as a zip or
.exe, imo.
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