TrueCrypt - Free Open-Source On-The-Fly Encryption for Windows

TrueCrypt (via TinyApps.org) sounds pretty awesome:

* It can create a virtual encrypted disk within a file and mount it as a real disk.
* It can encrypt an entire hard disk partition or a device, such as USB memory stick, floppy disk, etc.
* It is the only free open-source on-the-fly encryption software that fully supports Windows XP.
* It is also the only free open-source OTFE software for Windows XP that provides plausible deniability.
* Encryption algorithms: AES (256-bit key), Blowfish (448-bit key), CAST, IDEA, Triple DES

What scares me about using encrypted disk stuff is that if I ever forget the password there's no way I can ever recover the data.

Permalink | 1 Comment | Tags: Programming | id 5317

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Why I hate terms of service

At least when they're written by evil clueless lawyers. For instance, from the Bloglines TOS:

5. PROHIBITED USES

You agree that you will not: ... g. use the Service in any manner other than as expressly authorized in the TOS; h. use any robot, spider, other automatic device, or manual process to monitor or copy any content on the Service;

Except, A. they don't expressly authorize any manner of use in the TOS, and B. provision 5-h is so general that it prevents things like copying text to the clipboard or printing something out using a printer.

Permalink | 4 Comments | id 5316

04:52 (utc-4)

 

On Bush's condemnation of 527 groups

What's so hypocritical about Bush condemning the 527 groups is that he signed the law that created them. McCain-Feingold has to be one of the worst pieces of legislation ever put through congress, and I think one of the worst things Bush has done as president was sign that bill. It's arguably done more to restrict our civil liberties than anything people usually get mad about (such as unspecified portions of the PATRIOT Act, vague references to Ascroft, etc.), yet people tend to be blasé about it. Worse still, the Supreme Court upheld the most egregious part of it so there's nowhere left to appeal to.

Things worth reading are this from Glenn Reynolds and this from American Realpolitik. Of course, you may want to read what they link to as well. This from Reynolds is also worth reading.

Update: Definitely read this from Donald Sensing.

Update: This piece by Jonah Goldberg at the National Review seems good.

Permalink | Comments? | Tags: Opinions/Politics | id 5315

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