computer science

Private Disk

Private Disk is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Private Disk rather than just read about it. In short: Private Disk is a disk encryption application for the Microsoft Windows operating system, developed by Dekart SRL. It works by creating a virtual drive, the contents of which is encrypted on-the-fly; other software can use the drive as if it were a usual one.

Private Disk — illustration

Key takeaways

Private Disk belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Private Disk to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Private Disk from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Private Disk is a disk encryption application for the Microsoft Windows operating system, developed by Dekart SRL. It works by creating a virtual drive, the contents of which is encrypted on-the-fly; other software can use the drive as if it were a usual one. One of Private Disk's key selling points is in its ease of use, which is achieved by hiding complexity from the end user (e.g. data wiping is applied transparently when an encrypted image is deleted.) This simplicity does however reduce its flexibility in some respects (e.g. it only allows the use of AES-256 encryption.) Although Private Disk uses a NIST certified implementation of the AES and SHA-256/384/512 algorithms, this certification is restricted to a single component of Private Disk; the encryption/hash library used and not to Private Disk as a complete system.

Feature highlights NIST-certified implementation of AES-256-bit, and SHA-2. Private Disk complies with FIPS 197 and FIPS 180-2 CBC mode with secret IVs is used to encrypt the sectors of the storage volume Disk Firewall, an application-level filter, which allows only trusted programs to access the virtual drive Ability to run directly from a removable drive, requiring no local installation Offers access to encrypted data on any system, even if administrative privileges are not available Encrypted images can be accessed on Windows Mobile and Windows CE handhelds; this is achieved by making the encrypted container format compatible with containers used by SecuBox (disk encryption software by Aiko Solutions) File wiping is applied when deleting an encrypted image PD File Move, a file migration tool, which will locate the specified files on the system and securely move them to an encrypted disk Compatibility with Windows 9x and Windows NT operating systems Autorun and Autofinish automatically start a program or a script when a virtual disk is mounted or dismounted Encrypted backup of an encrypted image Password quality meter Automatic backup of a disk's encryption key Built-in password recovery tool Compatibility with 64-bit platforms Existing versions There are multiple versions of Private Disk, which provide a different feature set:

Private Disk - hard disk encryption software that uses 256-bit AES encryption, is highly configurable, offers application-level protection, USB disk portability, etc. Private Disk Multifactor is a superset of Private Disk, providing the same functionality, adding support for biometric authentication, as well as smart-card or token-based authentication. Private Disk Light is a free version, it uses AES-128 and comes with a restricted set of features. Private Disk SDK is a software development kit that can be used to build a custom application which provides data encryption facilities.

See also Disk encryption software Comparison of disk encryption software

External links Dekart company web-page Information about certified implementations of the cryptographic algorithms Private Disk discussion forum Release notes for the latest version

References

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Private Disk

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Private Disk claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Private Disk before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Private Disk ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Private Disk

In research: Private Disk appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Private Disk in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Private Disk is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Cryptographic software, Disk encryption, Windows security software, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Private Disk outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Private Disk in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Private Disk means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Private Disk out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Private Disk in simple terms?

Why does Private Disk matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Private Disk?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Private Disk.