Re: encrypting or password protecting files in OpenOffice and also jpg files and sending them to MSWindows users.....
On Sat 28 November 2009 05:36:29 am Jonas Bardino wrote:
> Michael Fothergill wrote:
> > Dear Debian folks,
> >
> > I use Open Office. It works OK for me most of the time. It can save
> > files as Microsoft Word documents. I work with people who use MSWindows
> > software all the time such as MSWord etc. I want to send an encrypted
> > or password protected file to them.
> >
> > If you produce a word processor document in MSWord apparently according
> > them you just click on some menu item with encypt on it and it encrypts
> > the document for you. Whether it attaches a password to it as well or
> > how the user at the other end decrypts it I don't know....
> >
> > But with OpenOffice it doesn't look like there is an encryption function
> > on it like there is in MSWord but there is a password protection option
> > when you save a file in it. If you look on google for Openoffice stuff
> > on encryption on there it all reads like a chapter from Finnegan's Wake
> > by James Joyce or even that it has itself been partly encrypted..... If
> > you want to password protect or encrypt some files reasonably
> > competently and then send them in a format the MSWindows world would
> > decrypt relatively easily what would you do?
> >
> > Do I have to use other software like GnuPGP or whatever it is
> > conjunction with Open Office? Maybe I should just copy the files on to
> > CD and then send them by old fashioned snail mail. That really would
> > confuse the hackers.
> >
> > Suggestions welcome,
> >
> > Michael Fothergill
>
> Hi Michael
>
> This question probably really belongs on debian-user@
> (http://lists.debian.org/debian-user/) as it is not amd64 specific, but
> anyway...
>
> Apparently saving in MS format with password is available or under way
> in OOo 3.x:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/openoffice/+bug/162057
> http://qa.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=39527
> so upgrading may eventually be a solution.
Michael,
No, that doesn't seem to be an option: "Only documents using the
OpenOffice.org XML-based format can be saved with a password." The option box
grays out when you select MS.DOC format (or even .XML).
cmr
> Another option is to send a password protected zip file with the
> document (e.g.
> http://kagashe.blogspot.com/2008/08/how-to-password-protect-file-on-linux.h
>tml). Zip extraction should be supported out of the box on windows. This is
> probably as insecure as password protecting the document.
>
> Most common email clients support encryption natively or with an add-on,
> so that you can also go a step further and encrypt the entire
> communication. Of course this requires some preparation from the
> participants, unless they already posses encryption keys. However, once
> set up it gives you strong encryption for all communication and all file
> types.
> In some countries signed encryption keys (sometimes called Digital
> Signatures) are handed out to all citizens for authenticated and secure
> communication with e.g. governmental bodies. In that case it is easy to
> just reuse those. Please check Google results for 'gpg YOUR MAIL CLIENT'
> and 'pgp/gpg RECIPIENT MAIL CLIENT' for details.
>
> Cheers, Jonas
--
Debian 'Etch' - Registered Linux User #241964
--------
"More laws, less justice." -- Marcus Tullius Ciceroca, 42 BC
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