Help? No File Encrypted Using Fast Initial Encryption

Hello Hendra,

but why all the data on the hard drive (that I Encrypted) is not encrypted?

it might not be immediately obvious what the difference between volume-based and file (or container/folder) encryption is. Maybe this metaphor helps:

File encryption is like writing something on a piece of paper in encrypted form (e.g. using a certain cipher). You can safely put it in the pile of other papers on your desk as only someone with knowledge or the encryption will be able to read it. In addition you can also make a copy and freely distribute it - it will still be unreadable. But anyone who can access your pile of papers can at least detect that such a paper exists. 

Volume-based encryption is something like an archivist whom you pass the plain-text paper and who then transcribes it (using a key which you "possess" but not necessarily know), puts it to the pile of papers on your desk and perhaps distributing it to different sheets during this procedure. You'll never see your document in its encrypted form and you won't be able to read (and not even to extract) it without the archivist's help (and the key). If you get the document it will always be in its original (and in this case) unencrypted form - or you won't get it at all. Someone bypassing the archivist will just see a pile of papers covered with gibberish and not be able to make out anything of the contents, number and size of papers and the like. But you can't make a copy of a document in its encrypted form - sure you can make a copy and hand it to the archivist (i.e. copy to the same or another encrypted) volume and it will be securely stored - as all you get to see is the original document.

Therefore it's sometimes desirable to combine these two methods. Keep in mind - one method protects the individual papers/documents the other the pile as a whole.

I hope this was not too much English (what's your preferred language, BTW?) and doesn't add to your confusion but clarifies things a little.

Christian

Hello Hendra,

but why all the data on the hard drive (that I Encrypted) is not encrypted?

it might not be immediately obvious what the difference between volume-based and file (or container/folder) encryption is. Maybe this metaphor helps:

File encryption is like writing something on a piece of paper in encrypted form (e.g. using a certain cipher). You can safely put it in the pile of other papers on your desk as only someone with knowledge or the encryption will be able to read it. In addition you can also make a copy and freely distribute it - it will still be unreadable. But anyone who can access your pile of papers can at least detect that such a paper exists. 

Volume-based encryption is something like an archivist whom you pass the plain-text paper and who then transcribes it (using a key which you "possess" but not necessarily know), puts it to the pile of papers on your desk and perhaps distributing it to different sheets during this procedure. You'll never see your document in its encrypted form and you won't be able to read (and not even to extract) it without the archivist's help (and the key). If you get the document it will always be in its original (and in this case) unencrypted form - or you won't get it at all. Someone bypassing the archivist will just see a pile of papers covered with gibberish and not be able to make out anything of the contents, number and size of papers and the like. But you can't make a copy of a document in its encrypted form - sure you can make a copy and hand it to the archivist (i.e. copy to the same or another encrypted) volume and it will be securely stored - as all you get to see is the original document.

Therefore it's sometimes desirable to combine these two methods. Keep in mind - one method protects the individual papers/documents the other the pile as a whole.

I hope this was not too much English (what's your preferred language, BTW?) and doesn't add to your confusion but clarifies things a little.

Christian