PGP Zip Trouble

Park_7677Park_7677 Missouri Member
edited July 2006 in Science & Tech
I've used PGP for a while to do strong encryption when I needed it. They introduced the ZIP feature a while back and I just never used it; until today.

I zipped up some images and text documents. I chose to do the conventional key method and was prompted for a passpharse and to confirm it. I did and saved the ZIP.

Now when I've gone back to open it it prompts for the passphrase and tells me it's incorrect. I tried over and over. For a test I created a new archive with a single letter password with the same result: Invalid passphrase.

Needless to say I can't get into the archive which holds pictures that are irreplaceable. Has anyone else seen this behavior with PGP? Obviously something is quirky because of the one letter test.

Using PGP Desktop 9.0.5. Thanks for any help

Comments

  • airbornflghtairbornflght Houston, TX Icrontian
    edited July 2006
    That doesn't sound good mate. Not at all. What kind of encryption, and how strong of a cypher did you use? I use encryption programs on my flashdrive incase it ever gets lost, but I never zip anything, just put it in the proprietery archive.
  • Park_7677Park_7677 Missouri Member
    edited July 2006
    I re-downloaded PGP 9.06 Professional and redid the one letter passphase test archive. This time the test archive worked. My important archive unfortunately still will not decrypt and returns invalid passphrase.

    This is an unacceptable since the pictures were of vacations and proms for example can't be replaced. I've looked for PGP brute force options against the PGP Zip archives thinking since I know what I typed in I could limit the tries to the same characters/numbers as well as similar length. However I can't find an application that will work against the PGP Zips. :mean: :bawling:

    If anyone has a similar experience they got resolved or knows how to help in any way I'd be grateful.

    I also posted at PGP's Support Forums but Short-Media is a lot more populated and I hoped I would get more responses if not helping solve the problem directly, the responses would help indirectly by pointing in directions for me to go.
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited July 2006
    what a disaster :(
  • Park_7677Park_7677 Missouri Member
    edited July 2006
    Okay well good news! I forgot that I have been practicing good backup techniques! :honoes:

    I have a batch script that RARs all my important things (all the files in the PGP Zip included) and burns it to a DVD-RW as well puts it on a USB HDD in my mom's office in the background. I guess since I didn't do it manually I didn't think of it first off. I just got the DVD out and copied it back and said screw the PGP Zip from now on.

    Anyone else that may use it: be careful and double/triple check you can open a test archive before trusting it with your real important things

    :celebrate
  • airbornflghtairbornflght Houston, TX Icrontian
    edited July 2006
    Im glad to here it, like I told the guy that im workin on his laptop for, backups will save your ass. I hate to see a computer that the important stuff isnt backed up.
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