MQCA said:
I've recently started using OneNote to keep track of various
private/personal details.
The thing is, because of the nature of the information I'm storing
I decided to put my OneNote notebook on a truecrpyt virtual drive.
My thoughts were simple, if the logical drive isn't mounted then my
details are secure. But no, I accidentally opened OneNote the other
day when my virtual drive was not mounted and it still had all my
details.
0.) Did you try it with password-protecting the section with the
sensitive data?
1.) As David already said: It's the cache.
The cache is the playground where ON works.When the data-files (notebook
files) are not within reach, ON works with the cache.Once the notebooks
are available again, ON autmatically synchs the data from the cache and
the notebooks.
By default, the cache is stored at
\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\OneNote\12.0
As this directory is *not* encrypted, the data are visible.
They are also visible low-level (without running ON) for everyone who
has access to this directory.
Therefore ON with the standard configuration not really is an instrument
for working with sensitive data needing security.
2.) One can remove data from the cache by
- closing the notebook;
- "Optimizing" the cache, Tools > Options > Save.
This should remove the data, but attachment files may remain and there
is a "Temporary …" cache file (the old cache) which will have to be
deleted.
And this does not really work 100% reliably, so I would not recommend
this in case the CIA or the FBI were after communications with Bin Laden
;-)
3.) The cache can be stored at some other place:
Tools > Options > Save
You might try it with moving the cache to the Truecrypt store.
As David said, this would be valid for the *whole* cache so that you
would also not be able to work with other notebooks unless the Truecrypt
container is mounted.
Caveat: Due to a bug in ON the cache for audio-files will remain in the
default location although the cache was moved.
Added: Data can be kept on a USB-stick and used from there.
The basic design if ON does not allow for placing the cache-files on a
removable device, however. The cache has to be sitting on the HD.
4.) A totally different way might be:
Virtualization of OneNote by installing the program on a removable
device (USB-stick or portable HD).
This is a brand new idea not yet really discussed in the commuinty and
not yet treated in any of the usual Blogs (AFAICS):
In Jan 16, 2009 in the thread "Office on an ext HD" [1] YoiuBetcha
mentioned that it might perhaps be possible to install ON under Ceedo;
the discussion was continued in the thread "Office 2007 in an ext HD"
(Jan 16,2009).
Meanwhile I tested Ceedo + Argo on a no-name USB-stick and installed ON
in it.
Success: it works.
Running from the stick is a bit slow (just like an older processor and
low RAM) but it's someway usable.
Running under Ceedo on a machine without having ON installed, ON is
totally encapsulated. No traces left behind in the computer after
closing.
When starting the ON under Ceedo from a stick on a computer having ON
installed, ON obviously is running from the place where it's installed
on the computer (in my case in German, whereas the English version is
installed on the stick). It's running at normal speed. All of the data,
however, incl. the cache are used with the files on the stick, the
settings (customized tollbars, tags etc.) as set in the stick too.
So it really works like under a "virtual machine".
So I think that for protecting privacy it might a viable way to use
Ceedo and install ON on a stick or - even far better - in a portable HD.
As said, I tested it on an SD card (far to slow) and now with a standard
USB stick. It may work better (faster) on a super-fast stick. And I
assume that it will just run as normal when installed on a HD. 2.5"
portable drives come really handy - small enough to carry one's noteboks
around.
BTW: Ceedo comes as "FreeAgent" with several WD portable drives. It's
also licenced for Lexar as "PowerToGo". These versions need the Argo
installer in addtion for installing nin-potable applications (like ON).
Caveat: The issue of the licence conditions would need further
inverstigation.
May sound rather excotic, but perhaps it may be of help.
Rainald
*---
[1]
news://msnews.microsoft.com/
[email protected]
[2]
news://msnews.microsoft.com/
[email protected]
[3]
http://www.ceedo.com/products/ceedo-personal.html
Review:
http://www.everythingusb.com/ceedo.html