Emailing Knox Files?

Cayman

<div class="IPBDescription">Is it possible to email know files? How?</div>Is it possible to email knox files to people? If so, can they open the files on a PC?



I tried emailing a 1MB test vault to myself but the file would never attach. Am I doing something wrong or is email not an option?



If email isn't an option, does anyone have a preferred method for transferring knox files to others? It would be great if you could use this to send tax docs this time of year to a PC user stuck in the 90s.



Thanks

khad

Welcome to the forums, Cayman!



Since Knox uses Apple's encrypted sparse bundle technology, the files cannot be opened on a PC. At least, there is no method of which I am aware. If you need to email them to another Mac user, you can compress the vault before sending it (File > Compress). The resulting ZIP file will contain the entire bundle. Please be aware of file size limits imposed by your email provider, though. You probably won't be able to send a 2 GB vault via email. <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/skype_smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':-)' />



I hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any additional questions or concerns.



Cheers!

[Deleted User]

Didn't see this thread until today, so, I'm sorry for the late bump.



@Cayman -- I use Dropbox for sharing my zipped Knox files with another iMac. When sharing, I create a new vault with the minimum size needed for the files in question, and then I compress and send it to the cloud. I haven't had any problems with method so far, and it is a good way to avoid e-mailing (both for attachment limitations and file security).



Of course, as Khad mentioned, I do not believe a PC user would be able to open the file. So, for now, perhaps you could use Dropbox to sync the individual files without the Knox encryption. You could always create encrypted PDFs if it makes you feel more secure.



If anyone believes my method is unsafe or otherwise unsound, please let me know.

[Deleted User]

Hi bswins,



There are a few cross-platform encryption tools available, but yourself and Khad are quite right, a Windows based PC cannot open the Knox vaults as they use an OS X only format.



Regarding Knox and Dropbox, the short answer is that we strongly recommend against storing your Knox vaults in your Dropbox folder.



When we look at an open Knox vault it appears to be normal folder containing files and other folders, but that is not how it is structured on the disk. Because of this a Knox vault can only safely be opened on one Mac at a time. At the moment there are no safeguards preventing the same vault from being opened on multiple computers.



For the same reason, some Knox vaults are very poorly suited to file based syncing mechanisms like Dropbox. A single change in one file in the vault may require that the entire vault be recopied.



So for these reasons, Knox vaults should not be stored in Dropbox folders. You can still use Dropbox for storing backups of your Knox Vaults, but they should not be used for active vaults.



Please see our user-guide here for more information on this:



[url="http://help.agile.ws/Knox/sync_vaults.html"]http://help.agile.ws...ync_vaults.html[/url]



Sorry to 'burst your bubble' on that one though,

[Deleted User]

Stu,



Thanks for the reply. I don't mind you bursting my bubble. Actually, I'm glad you did. I wouldn't want to continue a bad practice purely out of ignorance.



To clarify, I do not store my vaults in Dropbox as a permanent location. I only use Dropbox to transfer the large file instead of using e-mail. Once the file is downloaded on the other Mac, the temporary vault is deleted.



However, from your explanation, it appears that uploading the file for even a very small time frame could cause problems.



Could I avoid issues during the upload to Dropbox/download to other Mac issue by zipping the vault prior to upload? The vault is only needed for a temporary trip through the cloud.



Then again, perhaps the best answer is to rely on Dropbox's encryption and upload each file individually. No need to create problems where the benefit is not worth the risk.



Regardless, I appreciate the insight.



Brandt

[Deleted User]

Brandt,



Thanks for the clarification, from what you're describing you actually should be ok, since the vaults are being moved out of Dropbox once you're done. That said though, zipping them is never a bad idea.



I personally trust Dropbox's encryption, but given some recent revelations that they can decrypt your files (that you didn't encrypt first, so your 1Password data [and Knox vaults are safe]) if required by law enforcement / government agents within the US, some users aren't so sure.



Hope that helps,

[Deleted User]

Thanks Stu. Your comments do help....quite a bit, actually.



I've been following [s]Jim's[/s] Jeff's Forum posts and Blogs with great interest ever since the Dropbox revelation. Since a majority of the 1P community's worries concern the security of the 1Password.agilekeychain, I've been very comforted by [s]Jim's[/s] Jeff's and the rest of the AWS team's comments to assuage my 1Password fears. Mission accomplished.



However, as you alluded, that there has been intense discussion regarding Dropbox's ability to decrypt user's files. Consequently, I started using the knox.sparse.bundle method to quickly transfer "sensitive" files. I don't trust PDF and/or MS Office password protection very much, but that opinion is based on very limited knowledge of encryption methods. So, perhaps I'm just being paranoid. Then again, that paranoia brought me to your company, so I'll give my ignorance a break.



As I mentioned, I have monitored [s]Jim's[/s] Jeff's comments on the Dropbox matter. However, I am a true layman when it comes to what the true risks may be. It appears that transferring a zipped version of Knox files avoids the synching problems that you mentioned in your first reply, and it offers protection against possible Dropbox decryption.



I can't think of any files I have that require that extreme protection, but it is good to know that the zipped-knox.sparse.bundle method is a reliable alternative. Of course, this feeling is based on the assumption the Knox's encryption method is as robust as IP's. So far, nothing I've read on the Forum indicates otherwise.



Thanks again for your comments on the matter. I feel better having heard your views.



Brandt

khad

[quote]It appears that transferring a zipped version of Knox files avoids the synching problems that you mentioned in your first reply, and it offers protection against possible Dropbox decryption. [/quote]

A Knox vault ZIP compressed is probably the safest, most secure option. <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/skype_smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':-)' />



Knox uses the encrypted disk image technology built into OS X with strong AES protection. Your files are safe, just don't forget the password. <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' />

[Deleted User]

Thanks for the confirmation Khad.



As for forgetting my password, don't worry. I use this really cool software called 1Password. You should check it out. <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

khad

That made me [i]literally[/i] laugh out loud. Thanks for that. <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/skype_tongueout.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':-P' />

[Deleted User]

[quote name='khad' timestamp='1304398459' post='26144']

That made me [i]literally[/i] laugh out loud. Thanks for that. <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/skype_tongueout.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':-P' />

[/quote]



Thought you would appreciate that one! [img]http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif[/img]



These late nights are killers, aren't they? Wait, you're in LA. I guess it's still relatively early on the Left Coast.

khad

It's all relative. I only ended up getting a very small number of hours of sleep last night/this morning. <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/skype_smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':-)' />



I should probably begin to wind down even now.

brenty

[quote name='bswins' timestamp='1304398692' post='26145']

These late nights are killers, aren't they? Wait, you're in LA. I guess it's still relatively early on the Left Coast.

[/quote]



Out here we call that the [i]Wrong[/i] Coast (cause this is the Right One, baby. Uh huh.) <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' />



Also, I think you guys mean Jeff. He is so awesome, though, that I can see why you'd confuse him with [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_T._Kirk"]Jim[/url]. <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />

[Deleted User]

[quote]Out here we call that the [i]Wrong[/i] Coast (cause this is the Right One, baby. Uh huh.) <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' />[/quote]

I'm down in NC, so perhaps it's a southern thing. Not sure why we say "Left" vs. "Wrong", but I'm sure our west coast brethren have some colorful terminology for our coast. <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />



[quote]I think you guys mean Jeff. He is so awesome, though, that I can see why you'd confuse him with [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_T._Kirk"]Jim[/url]. <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />[/quote]

Indeed, I did mean Jeff. I corrected the post, but I left the evidence of my heresy.



Not sure where "Jim" came from, but I know Jeff is aware that I know his name. Regardless, I do appreciate the "out" you offered me, and I must agree that I do see the similarity to AB's Chief Defender.



Thanks Brent. Nice one. <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />

brenty

[quote name='bswins' timestamp='1304916213' post='26602']

I'm down in NC, so perhaps it's a southern thing. Not sure why we say "Left" vs. "Wrong", but I'm sure our west coast brethren have some colorful terminology for our coast. <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

[/quote]



I haven't actually heard anyone else call it that. I just do it to harass khad. Because that is my job. <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':P' />



[quote]

Indeed, I did mean Jeff. I corrected the post, but I left the evidence of my heresy.



Not sure where "Jim" came from, but I know Jeff is aware that I know his name. Regardless, I do appreciate the "out" you offered me, and I must agree that I do see the similarity to AB's Chief Defender.



Thanks Brent. Nice one. <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />

[/quote]



Maybe we can just call him "Chief" to avoid having to remember his name. <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' />

[Deleted User]

[quote] I just do it to harass khad. Because that is my job. <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':P' /> [/quote]

Ah, yes. Brothers: the gift the keeps on giving...for all eternity! <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />



[quote] we can just call him "Chief" to avoid having to remember his name. <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' />[/quote]

That works for me. Certainly, it is better than "dada" (defender against the dark arts).



However, if we don't watch out, he'll ask both of us to start calling him Mr. Goldberg. <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

jpgoldberg

[quote name='bswins' timestamp='1305035841' post='26704']

However, if we don't watch out, he'll ask both of us to start calling him Mr. Goldberg. <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

[/quote]

Just don't call me late for dinner.

[Deleted User]

[quote name='jpgoldberg' timestamp='1305235119' post='26834']

Just don't call me late for dinner.

[/quote]



Apparently, you've got that covered. <img src='http://forum.agile.ws/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> [url="http://forum.agile.ws/index.php?/topic/4716-help-1password-i-want-to-use-it-but-concerned/page__view__findpost__p__26840"]Got to go...[/url]