Encryption FAQ

• Who will install encryption software on my computer?
• What changes will I see after encryption software is installed?
• How much power and memory will encryption take while I am working?
• Does the software encrypt as I type or when I click "Save"?   
• What types of files will be encrypted?
• Will people be able to read my e-mail attachments?
• What if I need the encryption software removed?
• Will local databases (Oracle/Access) be encrypted?   

Technical staff - Please see: www.princeton.edu/encryption for documentation on software installation.

An OIT representative or your local departmental support representative must install laptop encryption.  Contact your local department support representative or the OIT Help Desk at 8-4357(HELP) to request encryption.

Nothing! After encryption software has been installed, you will log into your laptop with your NetID and password as before.

Once the initial process of encrypting your hard drive is complete the impact of the encryption software is negligible.

As soon as a new file is opened for creation, the encryption process begins because the entire hard drive is encrypted. This happens before the application does a “save” of the file.

Your entire local hard disk is encrypted – even unused, empty space. This means that while the operating system accesses any local files (reads/writes) those files are always in an encrypted state. If files are copied, moved, or backed up to network storage they are automatically decrypted as they are copied, moved or backed up. All local files are encrypted – text files, an access database file, a local SQL/Mysql/Oracle database file – all files!

Yes. Attachments are encrypted when they are stored on your local hard drive. However once the file is attached to an e-mail it becomes decrypted (within the e-mail). This means the recipient will be able to open the file. The original attached local file is still encrypted.

If a machine needed to be un-encrypted, please contact your local department support representative who will ensure the encryption is done properly according to standard procedures.

Yes, as long as the file is located on the hard disk that is encrypted. If the file is located on a network database server, then NO. Database files that are encrypted and then moved to a network database server are decrypted as they are moved off the machine. There is no impact to files/tools used to run scripts (e.g. cognos, .cpg files)