Newsgroups: comp.security.misc,comp.security.pgp.discuss,comp.security.pgp.resources
Subject: Announce - ScramDisk v2.02
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1998 13:14:05 +0100



Dear readers,

As you may be aware, a new public release of ScramDisk will be release
Monday 24/08/98.  Version 2.02, which will be available from
http://www.hertreg.ac.uk/ss/ contains a number of bug fixes and new
features, detailed below.

ScramDisk is a Hard Drive encryption program that runs under Windows 95 & 98
and provides a number of 'high security' ciphers including 3DES, Blowfish
and IDEA.  Encryption is done in CBC-mode using random IV & pre-encryption
whitening values.  The program uses SHA-1 as the passphrase hash algorithm.

This is the second version of ScramDisk that has been publicly distributed
and the program is free of charge.  The source code for the program is also
available for download.

v2.02 solves the following bugs:
* BestCrypt
* Large window fonts
* Log off / log on bug (For Link)
* SKF bug
* Intermittent freezing bug (caused by buffer misallocation)

Enhancements include:
* Can now have 8 mounted volumes rather than 4.
* Very low level (Red) password entry screen that stops SKIN98 etc. snooping key-presses.
* 16 (NORMAL) devices can be displayed rather than 8.
* Shows last opened time & date of an enciphered volume
* Minor changes to Cipher Verification form.
* Now allows forced dismount of drives.
* Option to minimise to system tray.
* Option to disable "No physical" warning message. (For Bear)
* Hotkeys for dismount and brutal dismount.
* Some command line options have been added. (To Mount container / dismount/ dismount brutal)
* Can now change the passphrase used to access a disk (though this doesn't re-encipher the disk).
* Now possible to revoke SKF access.
* Completely rewritten User Manual
* Now comes with a small example app that demonstrates mounting disks programmatically
* Option to disable "No physical" warning message. (For "Bear")

Some important points:
i) SKF files produced in previous versions will no longer work, due to major
re-engineering.  This may be an issue if you no longer know the password for
the volume.
ii) The first time you mount a disk with v2.02 and Right Click on the
mounted icon you may get a 'Checksum Error', ignore the error and click on
the Update button.
iii) Password change is now in place, but this only changes the passphrase
used to access the disk - it doesn't completely re-key the disk (feature due
in a future version).

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any enquiries,


--
Sam Simpson,
Comms Analyst
-- See http://www.hertreg.ac.uk/ss/ for ScramDisk, a free virtual disk
encryption for Windows 95/98.  PGP Keys available at the same site.