Remote File Lock FAQ

Version 3.1

How does Remote File Lock protect my sensitive files?: Remote File Lock creates a password-protected vault that you can use to store your sensitive files. If you lose your computer, you can remotely seal this vault to prevent users, including those with the password, from accessing your sensitive files.

What type of encryption do you use to protect files in the vault?: Remote File Lock uses the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm with a 128-bit key to keep files secure. Only individuals with access to the most sophisticated tools can crack this encryption within a reasonable amount of time. The level of security also heavily depends on the strength of your password, so make sure you use a strong password.

Why do I need to initialize Remote File Lock?

To start using Remote File Lock, you need to provide a computer description, an email address, and a password. This information lets you control access to the vault.

Keep this information separate from your computer, in a place that you can access later. You might need them later as shown in the table below.

Information	Purpose
Computer description	Reporting lost or stolen computer Unsealing the vault when computer is found Note: The computer description can be very important if you are using Remote File Lock on several computers.
Email address	Retrieving forgotten passwords Logging on to report lost or stolen computer Logging on to unseal the vault when computer is found
Password	Unlocking the vault for local access Logging on to report lost or stolen computer Logging on to unseal the vault when computer is found

Where is the vault?: Access the vault by double-clicking the Remote File Lock Vault icon on the desktop. If the vault is locked, it will prompt for your password.

I can see the Remote File Lock main screen on the Pro Services console, but could not see the vault. What do I do?

If the initialization process is abruptly terminated by an event other than a user closing or cancelling the process, Remote File Lock may still display its main screen in the Pro Services console. However, items in the screen may not function and the vault may not be available. In addition, attempts to remove Remote File Lock at this stage will likely fail because the registry entries needed by the uninstaller have not been created.

To restore Remote File Lock:

Close the Pro Services console.
Delete the Remote File Lock installation folder, which by default is C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\TrendSecure\RemoteFileLock.
Open the Pro Service console.
Initialize Remote File Lock again.

How do I unlock or lock the vault?: Right-click the desktop icon and select the corresponding action. You need to provide a password when unlocking the vault.

Which files should I protect?

Use the vault for files that can compromise your privacy and files that should be kept secure. The following descriptions can help you identify files that should be stored in the vault:

Local copies of online receipts and confirmation messages from online purchases
Password lists
Confidential business files
Files with your personal information

I forgot my password. What should I do?

You can retrieve your password through the email address you provided during initial setup. To access the password-retrieval screen, right-click the vault icon on the desktop and click Retrieve Password.

Make sure the email address you provided during initialization is correct. Otherwise, you will be sending your password to another person or to a non-existent address.

Can I change my password?

Keep your password confidential to ensure that your files stay safe. If you feel that your password has been compromised, modify the password immediately. To access the password modification screen, right-click the vault icon on the desktop and click Change Password.

Note: As a security measure, you can change the password only when you are online. Remote File Lock checks whether the computer has been reported lost or stolen before allowing any password changes.

How can I make my passwords strong?

Strong passwords are difficult to guess even with advanced tools. Follow the guidelines below to keep your passwords strong:

The longer the password, the more difficult it is to guess.
Avoid names and words that can be found in dictionaries. When using common words, use phonetic replacement and other approaches to modify them. For example, use "l8" for the word "late" or "f@st_t@lk3r" for "fast talker".
Use a combination of mixed-case letters, numbers, and other characters.
Avoid simple patterns like "101010" or "abcabc".

Can I change my email address?: You will not be able to easily change the email address you provided during initialization. To change the address, you can either reinstall Remote File Lock or contact Trend Micro technical support.

Can I use the vault like any Windows folder?

Trend Micro designed the vault for storing files and folders. You can copy and move files into the vault just as you would with any Windows folder. However, the Remote File Lock Vault differs from a normal Windows folder in a few ways:

When you move a file out of the vault, a copy of the file remains in the vault.
You cannot create new files in the vault directly, but you can move or copy new files created elsewhere into the vault.
Because the vault enforces access control, some programs cannot delete temporary (.TMP) or backup (.BAK) files from the vault. You can safely delete these files yourself after closing the program that created them.
You cannot open temporary and backup files in the vault.

What happens if I open a file in the vault, and then the vault locks?: Keeping files stored in the vault open when it locks will not cause any harm. You just need to enter the vault password before saving the open file.

Can I open files in the vault?: Yes, you can open most files, except temporary (.TMP) or backup (.BAK) files, in the vault.

Can I create files and folders in the vault?: No, you cannot create files or folders in the vault. Create and modify your files and folders outside the vault. When you are done working on a sensitive file or folder, move it to the vault.

Will other users of my computer have access to the vault?: No, the vault and other Remote File Lock features are only accessible to the user who installed Remote File Lock.

How do I report my computer lost or stolen?: If your computer is lost or stolen, seal the vault immediately through the Report Stolen service. To access the service, you need the email address and the password you provided during initialization. Once the vault is sealed, it cannot be accessed unless the computer is reported found.

How soon can Remote File Lock seal the vault after I report my computer stolen?: Remote File Lock regularly checks remote servers for the status of your computer. When it finds that your computer has been stolen, it will immediately seal the vault until the computer is reported found. If your computer is not connected to the Internet, the vault will require a password every time it is accessed.

Should the vault be locked or unlocked after I restart my computer?

The vault keeps its original state (locked or unlocked) when your computer restarts. However, it will automatically lock after a restart if your computer is not connected to the Internet or you reported your computer lost or stolen.

Note that the vault locks when your computer returns from Locked, Stand by, Hibernate, or Idle mode. However, if you restart your computer after returning from any of these modes without modifying any vault settings, the vault will start in its state before the computer entered the mode.

How do I regain access to the vault after I find my computer?: You need to report that your computer has been found through the Report Stolen service. Remote File Lock checks the service regularly for the status of your computer and will unseal the vault when it finds that the computer has been found. The vault remains password-protected even when it has been unsealed.

How do I change the Remote File Lock Vault back to the default icon?

Unlock the vault if you have locked it.
Right-click the vault icon, and then select Settings > Restore Vault Icon.

What happens if I accidentally delete the vault folder?: You will not be able to delete the vault icon on the desktop, but it is possible to access the vault folder directly and delete it. If you delete the vault folder, your protected files will be lost and you will need to reinstall Remote File Lock to use the vault again.

What happens to the files in the vault if I uninstall Remote File Lock?: If you uninstall Remote File Lock, the vault and all the files in it will be deleted. To preserve your files, copy them to another location before uninstalling Remote File Lock.

How do I uninstall Remote File Lock?

We recommend that you use the Pro Services console to uninstall Trend Micro Internet Security Pro service components. Click the Pro Services button in the Trend Micro Internet Security Pro main screen to access the console. From the console, click Remove installed services to remove Remote File Lock.

Note: Remote File Lock will connect to the Report Stolen service to update records during removal. Ensure that your computer is connected to the Internet. You will also need to provide the Remote File Lock password during uninstallation.

I still see Remote File Lock after I removed Trend Micro Internet Security Pro. How do I remove it?

Remote File Lock will remain on you computer if you failed to provide the correct password during Trend Micro Internet Security Pro uninstallation. To remove Remote File Lock after removing Trend Micro Internet Security Pro, use Add or Remove Programs (Windows XP) or Programs and Features (Windows Vista) in the Windows Control Panel.

Note: To retrieve your Remote File Lock password, you can use the Remote File Lock vault or the Report Stolen Service.

Can I get technical support for this product?

You are entitled to the same technical support provided with your purchase of Trend Micro Internet Security Pro. Before contacting technical support, you may want to access the following resources:

Knowledge Base—searchable database of product information, designed to address real-world problems encountered by users
Virus Encyclopedia—extensive collection of malware and threat information, providing you with knowledge to proactively combat threats and resolve security concerns