Encrypting links when sending them?

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  1. Posts : 34
    windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #11

    Anak said:
    Hi,

    It has taken me awhile to respond because I have been busy trying to track down some way to make what you are trying to do easier, but you have one condition that does not allow anything other than what you are already doing, that condition is working with your group, the old-school engineers (OSE).

    I tried finding something to use on your machine or your Firefox (FF) browser:

    • FF does have one obfuscation add-on but it does not hide well and only changes the letters of words that can still be read easily.


    • Then there is Lock the Text, I installed this onto my version of FF but I still have not mastered it yet to where I can understand how it works so I can not endorse it, and with the passwords you can apply it seems like it would be too difficult for the OSE.




    So, what does this boil down to? I might get some discussion from fellow members that my endorsement of what you are already doing is not safe, but if you feel comfortable and okay with doing it, then okay, do it.

    This is from your post #5 and I took the liberty of shortening your quote(s), clicking on the orange dot beside your name will take you directly to the post the quote came from:
    And later on in your post #8If I understand correctly:

    • You compress the .dwg file with the .rar program and upload it to the so site that generates a link to the file, then use urlcrypt on that so site link, and add a password to the urlcrypt link to give to the OSE.


    • Another layer of security would be to set a password to the compressed .dwg/.rar file if you are not already doing it, the added burden for you would be to give two passwords to whoever you phone.


    • Is your desire to encrypt the link because of spambots or do you have another reason? The only other reason I can think of is to hide the link from engineers that would try to do harm to your drawings.


    In my research I used whois.com to see where the URLCrypt.to - Keeping your links safe link goes to and found information that shows the registrant and administrator of urlcrypt Markus Schneider is based in Homburg Germany, there is even an email, address, and phone number if you wanted to contact him to address your concerns about security.

    Some reasons for using an offshore domain could be; Price, domain availability, and site ranking. So if it works for you and you are comfortable with using it continue using it.


    Code:
    urlcrypt.to
    
    Domain:               urlcrypt.to
    Created on:           Sat Apr 16 06:38:25 2016
    Last edited on:       Sat Apr 16 06:38:25 2016
    Expires on:           Sun Apr 16 06:38:25 2017
    Primary host add:     None
    Primary host name:    ns1211.ispapi.net
    Secondary host add:   None
    Secondary host name:  ns2202.ispapi.net
    
    Results from checking SOA records for listed servers:
    ns3178.ispapi.net:         2016052200
    ns2202.ispapi.net:         2016052200
    ns1211.ispapi.net:         2016052200
    
    END
    
    related domain names
    ispapi.net
    Then clicking on the related domain ispapi.net I found:
    Code:
    ispapi.net
    
    Domain Information
    Domain:
    ispapi.net
    Registrar:
    1 API GMBH
    Registration Date:
    2008-10-05
    Expiration Date:
    2017-10-05
    Updated Date:
    2016-10-06
    Status:
    clientTransferProhibited
    Name Servers:
    ns1011.ispapi.net
    ns2011.ispapi.net
    ns3011.ispapi.net
    
    Registrant Contact
    Name:
    Markus Schneider
    Street:
    Zweibruecker Strasse 26
    City:
    Homburg
    State:
    Saarland
    Postal Code:
    66424
    Country:
    DE
    Phone:
    +49.684192430
    Email:
    email@ispapi.net
    
    Administrative Contact
    Name:
    Markus Schneider
    Street:
    Zweibruecker Strasse 26
    City:
    Homburg
    State:
    Saarland
    Postal Code:
    66424
    Country:
    DE
    Phone:
    +49.684192430
    Email:
    email@ispapi.net
    
    Technical Contact
    Name:
    Markus Schneider
    Street:
    Zweibruecker Strasse 26
    City:
    Homburg
    State:
    Saarland
    Postal Code:
    66424
    Country:
    DE
    Phone:
    +49.684192430
    Email:
    email@ispapi.net
    
    Raw Whois Data
    Domain Name: ISPAPI.NET
    Registry Domain ID: 1522833768_DOMAIN_NET-VRSN
    Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.1api.net
    Registrar URL: http://www.1api.net
    Updated Date: 2016-04-28T08:19:29Z
    Creation Date: 2008-10-05T15:20:23Z
    Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2017-10-05T15:20:30Z
    Registrar: 1API GmbH
    Registrar IANA ID: 1387
    Registrar Abuse Contact Email: email@1api.net
    Registrar Abuse Contact Phone: +49.68416984x200
    Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited - http://www.icann.org/epp#clientTransferProhibited
    Registry Registrant ID: 
    Registrant Name: Markus Schneider
    Registrant Organization: 
    Registrant Street: Zweibruecker Strasse 26
    Registrant City: Homburg
    Registrant State/Province: Saarland
    Registrant Postal Code: 66424
    Registrant Country: DE
    Registrant Phone: +49.684192430
    Registrant Phone Ext: 
    Registrant Fax: 
    Registrant Fax Ext: 
    Registrant Email: email@ispapi.net
    Registry Admin ID: 
    Admin Name: Markus Schneider
    Admin Organization: 
    Admin Street: Zweibruecker Strasse 26
    Admin City: Homburg
    Admin State/Province: Saarland
    Admin Postal Code: 66424
    Admin Country: DE
    Admin Phone: +49.684192430
    Admin Phone Ext: 
    Admin Fax: 
    Admin Fax Ext: 
    Admin Email: email@ispapi.net
    Registry Tech ID: 
    Tech Name: Markus Schneider
    Tech Organization: 
    Tech Street: Zweibruecker Strasse 26
    Tech City: Homburg
    Tech State/Province: Saarland
    Tech Postal Code: 66424
    Tech Country: DE
    Tech Phone: +49.684192430
    Tech Phone Ext: 
    Tech Fax: 
    Tech Fax Ext: 
    Tech Email: email@ispapi.net
    Name Server: ns1011.ispapi.net 194.50.187.11
    Name Server: ns2011.ispapi.net 194.0.182.11
    Name Server: ns3011.ispapi.net 193.227.117.11
    DNSSEC: unsigned
    URL of the ICANN WHOIS Data Problem Reporting System:
    http://wdprs.internic.net/
    >>> Last update of WHOIS database: 2017-01-28T09:14:51Z <<<
    
    For more information on Whois status codes, please visit https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/epp-status-codes-2014-06-16-en.
    
    ; This data is provided for information purposes, and to assist persons
    ; obtaining information about or related to domain name registration
    ; records. We do not guarantee its accuracy.
    ; By submitting a WHOIS query, you agree that you will use this data
    ; only for lawful purposes and that, under no circumstances, you will
    ; use this data to
    ; 1) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission of mass
    ;    unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations via E-mail
    ;    (spam); or
    ; 2) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes that apply
    ;    to this WHOIS server.
    ; These terms may be changed without prior notice.
    ; By submitting this query, you agree to abide by this policy.
    
    
    related domain names
    1api.net
    icann.org
    internic.net

    " You compress the .dwg file with the .rar program and upload it to the so site that generates a link to the file, then use urlcrypt on that so site link, and add a password to the urlcrypt link to give to the OSE. "

    Absolutely right.

    Quite detailed Anak, i absolutely couldn't figured that out by myself. For setting password to the rar. archive sound good too as of now i am gonna add that as a second level of protection before sending to the OSE:)
    As for the bots i saw that URlCrypt gives some protection against but to be honest i have no idea how this bots work so that i can make some kind of conclusion. My mind is like: if this protects from that bots it's supposed to be better than none.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 2,465
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #12

    JordanMihailov said:
    " You compress the .dwg file with the .rar program and upload it to the so site that generates a link to the file, then use urlcrypt on that so site link, and add a password to the urlcrypt link to give to the OSE. "

    Absolutely right.

    Quite detailed Anak, i absolutely couldn't figured that out by myself. For setting password to the rar. archive sound good too as of now i am gonna add that as a second level of protection before sending to the OSE:)
    As for the bots i saw that URlCrypt gives some protection against but to be honest i have no idea how this bots work so that i can make some kind of conclusion. My mind is like: if this protects from that bots it's supposed to be better than none.
    Take into account that there is no such thing as "encrypting links", that's just the fake advertisement crappy sites like that use to draw people into using their "services". The only thing they really do is change a link for another, with zero security in between. Moreove, you give the plain link to that site, do you trust them not to share with anyone else? Put simply, forget about that Urlcrypt or anything like that.

    Instead, rely on a password on the rar file. Compress the dwg file and give the resulting file a good password, then upload the rar file. That way, you can safely forget about "bots", anyone getting the file won't be able to use it unless he knows the password.


    Callender said:
    You just want to send a link securely and nothing else?

    Try: Privnote - Send notes that will self-destruct after being read

    Privnote Privacy Policy

    How Privnote Really Works - Pablo Hoffman

    If you want to be really secure you'd have to use encrypted email to send the link.
    Like the site the OP asked for, all those add zero security, but a lot of placebo. Rely on a password, not about hiding the link, by using "cloud" storage, you're losing control on the file already.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 5,605
    Originally Win 7 Hm Prem x64 Ver 6.1.7600 Build 7601-SP1 | Upgraded to Windows 10 December 14, 2019
       #13

    Jordan,

    The guys are right about the security of an encrypted link, it will keep the "kids out" but not the more experienced, determined user and with the advances in secure computing it has become just as easy to decrypt.

    As Callender has said:

    If you want to be really secure you'd have to use encrypted email to send the link.
    Think about this if your abv.bg mail service can not encrypt emails, even if it could this way may be more secure;

    • You have already sent your compressed/password protected .dwg file to the so site and have the link to it.


    • Compose an email with the so site URL in plain view on your word processor, save it as a file and encrypt/password the file. There are Firefox encryption add-ons here, but the guys may have a better add-on or program to encrypt.


    • As an added feature you could compress that encrypted/password file with your .rar program, and put a password on it and send it as an attachment to the OSE.

    Sure looks like overkill but wouldn't your drawings be worth it? It looks like you would have to deal with three passwords to phone over to the OSE, five if you use the added feature.

    This just a rough draft, the guys might have a way to streamline the process; Another thought, what would the effect be, if any on the drawings with all this compression/encryption?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 34
    windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #14

    Anak said:
    Jordan,


    This just a rough draft, the guys might have a way to streamline the process; Another thought, what would the effect be, if any on the drawings with all this compression/encryption?
    Well, i have to make a test at least to know if the file gets damaged somehow with all that compressing.
    have no idea right now.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 5,605
    Originally Win 7 Hm Prem x64 Ver 6.1.7600 Build 7601-SP1 | Upgraded to Windows 10 December 14, 2019
       #15

    At your leisure, we'll be here.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 34
    windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #16

    How to try the best possible compression with winrar ? Any idea ?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 5,605
    Originally Win 7 Hm Prem x64 Ver 6.1.7600 Build 7601-SP1 | Upgraded to Windows 10 December 14, 2019
       #17

    I'm at a disadvantage because I do not use compression much and when I do, I use 7zip, so I can only offer third-party directions like: Achieving Maximum Possible Compression in WinRAR

    These next two show to lock the archive on the general tab and you might get a bit more by changing the dictionary size; Advance tab >compression button. Click on the youtube icon, bottom right, when viewing the video. Then look to the right, there may be more on greatest compression.



    http://How to Increase File Compression Ratio in WinRAR | www.isunshare.com/blog

    Different files will compress differently and being that you are working with drawings you may not be able to compress a lot. One work around might be if your drawings have x amount of pages, say three, try compressing each page individually, the drawback is, the effort to send them is tripled; passwords, compression, decompression, up and downloading.

    Added this, Winrar Help it does not have anything on greatest compression but may be handy.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 4,776
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       #18

    Do some research on Hightail:

    How to send a file? – Hightail

    Lite Users: 250MB max individual file

    PRO Users: 25GB max individual file

    Note: I have only used it to send files less than 1GB in size using the free (LITE) version and not recently.

    EDIT: Originally I used the Beta version which had no restictions at all on file size.

    You could upload a password protected compressed file.
    Last edited by Callender; 03 Feb 2017 at 17:25. Reason: add info
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 34
    windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #19

    As i see i can use 7zip to compress more, right ?
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 5,605
    Originally Win 7 Hm Prem x64 Ver 6.1.7600 Build 7601-SP1 | Upgraded to Windows 10 December 14, 2019
       #20

    All I can say is try it, different compression programs work differently with what they are trying to compress, sounds like a poor answer but you won't know until you try. Compression programs work best with letters and numbers but you have line? drawings that could be classified as an image and that does not compress well with .rar or 7zip.

    What you really need is an image compression program, the first one on this list of image compression programs | google search, Caesium, is open source and has a portable version the next one has 18 reviews and there are others down the list, just watch, some like image optimizer are online where you upload your file and we are trying to stay away from that, security right? Though, in all fairness it does have a download for the program.

    Google has a new technology that is interesting and sounds exciting, Rapid and Accurate Image Super-Resolution (RAISR) but it is for android and won't be expanded to other platforms for awhile.
      My Computer


 
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