Sorry if this seems LONG, but many people need to understand, even though I hope most people here do.
It is not so much a 'question', but a discussion about 'Security' levels accepted in the U.S.A.
syskey.exe is a part of windows, and is/was there to allow
Users to encrypt
their system,
at least at a basic level. At the risk of being corrected, probably 99.9% of people have never used it, (let alone
those that know about it). UNFORTUNATELY, the MOST time that this is utilized, is by HACKERS!...
Now YOU, the computer owner, husband, father, workmate, friend... may REALIZE that a phonecall, or online
request to HELP you fix your computer is a load of CRAP, but you can't always educate 'others' in time...
These ArseHoles usually start by getting you to download something 'like' Team-Viewer, and to run it with
certain supplied information, which allows 'them' to take control of your PC/Laptop. They THEN run
syskey.exe themselves, and basically lock you out of your own computer. The answer
? ( to stop anyone else who may
ignorantly be using your computer), then please see the explanation in the following link, how to circumvent that...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=513&v=xX-75WJV-lgOK, so you
WANT to use Encryption on files/folders/HDD's/Partitions/Computers... then read on...
Do you trust Microsoft ?... (I don't). Why ?, because the American Government now
'forbids' the use of
encryption software from 3rd parties, that does NOT have a BACK DOOR for their infiltration ! Case in point!...
What
USED to be a free Open-Source encryption package known as '
TrueCrypt', was shut down in 2014.
They were forced into 'retirement' and removed their GitHub links/software, stating that 'they' suggest
everyone change to
Microsoft's "BitLocker"... This is incorporated in the 'higher-end' Windows versions like
the 'Pro' or 'Ultimate' versions. (But NOT the 'Home' editions). No guesses that Microsoft's 'BitLocker' has
been 'approved' by the United states National Security !!! But do they need this... NO !!!!!!
Since the 'demise' of 'TrueCrypt', (Open-Source), there have been new advancements !
Various groups tried to take it over. (At an open source level), and NO LONGER with
hidden developers.
FIRSTLY, a site labeling themselves as '
TCnext'
https://truecrypt.ch/ started by releasing the last known
good version of "TrueCrypt", being version 7.1a (Still available for download).
BE WARNED though, that
the 'supposedly' final release, version 7.2, is NOT a USEABLE version !! It purely 'DECRYPTS' your files, in
readiness for '"BitLocker" !! You can STILL safely use TrueCrypt 7.1 with NO problems !!!!
Any 'reported' problems are due to no further followups, and NOT because it has been 'hacked'.....
SO, one follow through for 'TrueCrypt' was "CypherShed" which released a Version 7.4.0 in 2016.
This now seems to be "Dead in the water" with no work done on it for 1 1/2 years.
The BEST, current & maintained follow-on from 'TrueCrypt' was/is "VeraCrypt", which can be found here....
https://www.veracrypt.fr/en/Downloads.htmlYou may have your own reasons for file/system-encryption, and if 'I' wanted/needed that, then I
would be pissed off if my 'government' here in Australia 'demanded' that a back-door be built into
all such systems so that they could get in, when/if they please... NOPE !
I guess I understand that terrorist organizations need to be brought to light, in no uncertain terms!
And although the global authorities had been caught with their pants down in the past, they have
a multitude of other methods to track them now, and hold them accountable, & eradicated !