Sending bank account details

[rjh01]

I need to send my bank account details to someone. Is it better to send it via snail mail or via e-mail?

Not worried about what the intended recipient will do with the information. I am worried about what happens if a third party gets hold of the information. Could they use it to clean out my bank account? I know various organizations do take money out of my account for valid reasons.

If someone does clean out my account without my authority do I have any come back?

[a_unique_person]

I'd love to know how they do it. I pay for everything on ebay by direct deposit to their bank account. In theory, they should be secure, since it is password protected and has to be signed for in person.

[AgeGap]

Jeremy Clarkson thought it was OK to give out his details (http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2008/jan/07/personalfinancenews.scamsandfraud)

Encrypt your details and send via e-mail. Send key via another method. Phone/Snail mail.

Will this person be safe with your details. They won't just leave them on the bus will they?

Free encryption (http://www.snapfiles.com/Freeware/security/fwencrypt.html)

[Grimoire]

Jeremy Clarkson thought it was OK to give out his details (http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2008/jan/07/personalfinancenews.scamsandfraud)

Encrypt your details and send via e-mail. Send key via another method. Phone/Snail mail.

Will this person be safe with your details. They won't just leave them on the bus will they?

Free encryption (http://www.snapfiles.com/Freeware/security/fwencrypt.html)

If you use public key/private key, you don't have to worry about sending the keys another way. The other person creates a key pair and emails you the public key. You encrypt with the public key, and he decrypts with the private key. Knowing the public key will not allow you to decrypt. Only the secret private key can decrypt what the public key encrypts.

GPG4Win (http://www.gpg4win.org/) might be what you are looking for.

[rjh01]

Thanks. But I found an answer. I put the information in a word document. Saved it so that a password is required to open it. I sent the password via sms and the word document via e-mail.

[logical muse]

Thanks. But I found an answer. I put the information in a word document. Saved it so that a password is required to open it. I sent the password via sms and the word document via e-mail.

Oh. That's not the best security...

First, open the document and do a "Save As..." specifying Rich Text Format (RTF). It'll end up being called something.rtf.

Now open the RTF file by double-clicking on it. It should look identical to the original Word file.

Final step: save the RTF file with a new name as a Microsoft Word format document.

That's all there is to it. You've sidestepped the read-only lock on the file your boss sent you and are good to go.

http://www.askdavetaylor.com/can_i_crack_a_password_protected_microsoft_word_fi le.html

[grmcdorman]

While I'm not that familiar with the password feature of Word, logical_muse, it appears that your link is talking about write-protected (i.e. unchangeable) documents. rjh01 created a read-protected document (i.e. it needs the password to open - the first step in the process you refer to).

[logical muse]

Oops, you're right.

It's still easy though. Lots of resources available for cracking Word passwords:
http://www.google.com/search?q=cracking+word+passwords
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/735/1009735/ms-word-passwords-a-doddle-to-crack

eta: Here's a program that does it: http://www.password-crackers.com/crack/guaword.html

[rjh01]

Thanks for that. At least I now know that it is hard to break a password. Just make sure the password is not in the dictionary + all other normal precautions.

As for removing the password on a read only document that is easier than the link says. Method
1. Open the document for read only
2. Click on save as... A box will open.
3. Open general options (located at the top of the box). You will be able to see the password as ****
4. Remove the password.
5. Click on OK
6. Save the document as a new name.

The new document will then have no password protection.