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Re: SEEK: freeware to decrypt password-protected Winzip files
de Franklin 06/20/2006 02:41
On 20 Jun 2006, Terry<noemail@none.invalid> wrote:
> On Tue, 20 Jun 2006 02:38:32 +0100, Franklin <franksays@nomail.com>
> wrote:
>
>>I use Winzip ($$$ware) to encrypt personal files so that they are
>>safe when transitted over the net.
>>
>>Some recipients cannot open these files even though they have the
>>password.
>>
>>Which freeware which can open Winzip encypted files? And which
>>method of encryption (performed by Winzip) can they decrypt?
>>
>>Winzip can encrypt using:
>>(a) Zip 2.0
>>(b) 128-bit AES
>>(3) 256-bit AES.
>
> The only one of those that is generally supported is zip 2.0
> encryption. Many (most?) freeware can open those.
>
> The AES encryption is pretty much Winzip only -- I don't know of
> any freeware that will open them. Note that some of your recipients
> may be opening these files using the builti in zip-file handling of
> Windows XP. This will handle zip 2.0 passwords only, and they may
> be reluctant to install any additional zip program, whether
> freeware or not.
I tried FILZIP which claims to be able to decrypt AES but it does not
work well. These recipients are not computer-savvy and would
struggle if the needed to massage the results.
>
> <OT>
> Winzip can create self-extracting exe files, that use AES
> encryption. This would let you use the stronger encryption, but not
> require any zip program on the recipient's system. Essentially you
> are sending them the decryption program along with your data.
> </OT>
Yes, I had been thinking about this but I get the feeling that
getting my self-extracting EXE past the recipient's security might be
hard. (I suppose I could, errr, zip up the EXE file!)
Then ... getting my recipients to run a new and untried self-
extracting EXE for every document I send them might also need a bit
of persuading!
If there is no freeware to extract AES-encrypted data then ISTR there
was an ad-sponsored version of Winzip but it must be a figment of my
imagination as I can't find it.
Maybe there is a standalone freeware AES-decryptor?