Tao Effect Forums

Espionage => Espionage 3 => Topic started by: Nayn on March 21, 2014, 10:09:09 AM

Title: Espionage and Online Backups
Post by: Nayn on March 21, 2014, 10:09:09 AM
I would like to ask whether the security model and the encryption used in Espionage (3) - specifically the kind of keychain Espionage uses - are made in a way that makes it no problem at all to create copies or backups of Espionage-secured data by using online backup services like Backblaze, JungleDisk or others.

I guess (hope!), the factor encryption/security should not be a problem, but what about possible losses in metadata, permissions, etc.? Backblaze, e.g., does not shine in preserving permissions, timestamps, symlinks, and a whole lot of other data Backup Bouncer tests.

Since I would like to be sure that the critical files I would like to have encrypted in Espionage 3 will not only be secure as in encrypted, but also secure as in always readable, I would be very much interested in a statement concerning (a) data-security/-availability/-integrity and (b) how data integrity is preserved when moving/copying/backing up encrypted folders and its accompanying keychain/key-database.

Thank you!

I could not resist to use this 1990s-html-tag. So moving. Such fun.
Title: Re: Espionage and Online Backups
Post by: zsolt on March 21, 2014, 01:53:31 PM
Hello,

Espionage is in fact quite simple from the point of backup. Also it does not use any particular tricks, just the standard features of OS X (this is true for V3, V2 as bit more into the funky side...)

As long as the software is backing up the yourhomefolder/Library/Application Support/com.taoeffect.Espionage3, then you are fine. This folder contains your data and metadata, other then this there is only this folder you originally protected which becomes empty as the data is move away, but stays a regular folder, nothing special about it, is just a mount point, i.e. a folder "through" which you access you data which are in fact inside a disk image in the aforementioned folder.

To reach the folder I mention, you can hold down the option key, and in the Finders's Go menu, you select Library from the list, then you can navigate further normally using Finder (it is just the Library folder which is hidden)

Let me know if you have further questions.

Rgds
Zsolt
Title: Re: Espionage and Online Backups
Post by: Nayn on March 21, 2014, 02:42:48 PM
Thank you for your answer. What happens, if I "forget" to restore the folder that is used as a mounting point? Does Espionage ask for a new mounting point?
Title: Re: Espionage and Online Backups
Post by: zsolt on March 22, 2014, 01:42:12 AM
In the folder I mentioned, there is a file called database3, this one contains all the information about your protected folders and passwords for them. If this file is in place when you start Espionage, you will be able to unlock it with your password, and all the folders you added to it, will be shown.

However, if either the disk image, or the mount point folder is missing for one of the protected folders, there will be a red remark under the folder name in the folder list.

If you click onto small "i" near the folder name, you will be taken to the folder options, including two drop down menus, one for the disk image and other for the mount point folder.

Here you can point Espionage to the right disk image (normally not needed, unless you decide to move the disk image into some other folder), and you can select any folder (preferably empty) as mount point.

So back to your question, if you do not restore the mount point folder, just create a new one, anywhere you want, and in the folder options, point Espionage to it.

What you really do need to get your data is: the database3, the disk image and the master password, if any of these 3 is missing, the data is gone.

I hope this clarifies it.

Rgds
Zsolt
Title: Re: Espionage and Online Backups
Post by: Nayn on March 23, 2014, 01:58:10 AM
Thank you, Zsolt, for the detailled explanation. If only the files/folders have to be in their previous position and file permissions, metadata, etc. is irrelevant, then I am good to go. Thank you!
Title: Re: Espionage and Online Backups
Post by: zsolt on March 23, 2014, 03:09:29 AM
Well there is little metadata to it, they are all stored in files, and the permissions are the usual one, nothing special, but in case the backup software fails to restore the normal permissions, then it might stop working, for example if you do not read/write permissions to the disk image or mount point folder, but if this happens I would seriously doubt the functionality of that backup software. Still, if any problems with permission, it is simple to fix.

As always, the best thing is to test, create one dummy folder, protect it, back it up then try to delete various parts and see how to restore them and if that worked.

If you ever get stuck just let me know.

RGds
Zsolt
Title: Re: Espionage and Online Backups
Post by: greg on March 23, 2014, 02:33:31 PM
Quote from: mkalina on March 21, 2014, 10:09:09 AM
I could not resist to use this 1990s-html-tag. So moving. Such fun.

lol! I didn't know this forum supported that. :P