Q&A STEVE ALEXANDER
Q How good is the built-in encryption program that came with my 4-gigabyte San-Disk Cruzer Micro flash drive? I use a 512-bit triple encryption program to secure part of the drive, but I find it tedious.
PHIL POLLOCK, NORWOOD YOUNG AMERICA
A You make a good point. Encryption, the protective coding that keeps data from being read by those who don't have the software "key," is available in varying degrees of security.
The 128-bit encryption used by the SanDisk unit is inherently less secure than the encryption you're already using. But, by some estimates, a random attempt to guess the key for 128-bit encryption software could take years, which is longer than most attackers would keep at it.
But encryption isn't a panacea; there are situations when it may not protect your data at all. Studies have shown that encryption keys can be retrieved from a PC that is in sleep mode to conserve energy, or from a laptop that is stolen and subjected to tampering. For details, see a recent article from Wired magazine at www.startribune.com/a4422.
Q Our lake association has maintained a mailing list and some membership information in a program called "My Mail List," but we need newer software. Is there any way to convert the data to a new program without reentering it?
GERALD ENGELKE, EAGAN
A Reentering the mailing list data shouldn't be necessary; most desktop e-mail software will allow you to import an existing list from another program. You can check out e-mail programs -- many of them free or free to try -- at www.startribune.com/a4417.
