Key Block Functions Property Sheet


The following dialog window appears when you run Properties command for a container file. If you select Key block functions icon in the left part of the dialog, the Properties dialog window displays operations you can run to control Key Block of the container.

Key Block is a header of container file, which stores information necessary to mount the container file.

Since version 8 BestCrypt is able to perform some operations with container's key block - encrypt/decrypt key block header, backup/restore and wipe key block. The property sheet shows information about key block and allows users to run the operations.


Key Block Functions property sheet

  1. Encrypt key block header

    Container file with encrypted header becomes looking as a file storing random data, so it is impossible to prove that the file contains encrypted data. Containers with encrypted headers are not visible in BestCrypt Control Panel. To work with such containers, you have to use Browse command from Container menu.
    Containers with encrypted headers are not guarded by Container Guard Utility.
  2. Backup key block

    If you select this radio-button and click Execute button, BestCrypt will ask you to choose a name and a location for the key block file (.kbb) file. The copy of the container's key block can be stored anywhere, for example, on a removable device.

    You can restore the container's key block from the copy - the procedure will overwrite the container's key block.

    You can mount the container directly from the copy - without overwriting the container's key block.

  3. Restore from backup

    BestCrypt performs this operation in two steps: first, it requires your password and tries to mount the container. If there are no errors and the key was decrypted successfully, BestCrypt overwrites the key block inside the container.
  4. Wipe key block

    If you have created a copy of key block in a separate file, you may wish to erase (wipe) key block inside the container and then access the container using the key block copy. In that case it will be absolutely impossible to access data inside the container without the file where key block copy is stored.

    Container file with wiped header becomes looking as a file with random data, so it is impossible to prove that the file contains encrypted data. Containers with wiped headers are not visible in BestCrypt Control Panel. To work with such a container, you will have to use Browse command from Container menu.
    Containers with wiped headers are not guarded by Container Guard Utility.
  5. Mount the container with backup key block

    If you have created backup copy of key block, you may wish to mount the container with this copy, without restoring (overwriting) the key block inside container. When you run this command, Explorer will start and you should browse for the location where the key block copy (.kbb file) is stored.

See also:

Encrypted headers