MHT archives are not that complex, they're just MIME envelopes combining the HTML file with the resources (images etc) that it needs. MIME envelope format is well documented in internet standards. Right now Firefox doesn't support MHT but there's some active feature requests to support it, so maybe it will be added sometime. At worst though, it's not hard to write a script that expands an MHT into a directory of separate files that Firefox can read. The closed web format I really hate is Flash animations, since they are all over the place now, and it's sometimes impossible to navigate past them without the plug-in.

A lot of people make that assumption about MS word and excel but I have run into compatibility problems in both so I avoid MS word and excel now as well.

I totally agree about flash.
And what realy p*&^%&^s me is that down here we are limited to slow internet connections in a lot of area's and flash animations seems to use all the bandwidth to slow everything to almost a halt.

As a computer support geek - I frankly don't trust any computer (hardware) or application (software) and some times I am not to sure about my memory (wetware) - sorry, nerd joke.

I just like the fact that you can consolidate your information (picture of item, picture of receipt and description) about an item and then PRINT it out. Only thing that has been around longer than papyrus is clay tablets and they don't feed through the laser printer very well - OK, enough of the nerd jokes...

In the past year+ there has been a lot of news reports regarding e-mail and its use in legal arguements. Businesses are now being required to retain data for years (costly and not as easy as it sounds). Conversely, I was going through some of my father's papers and found letters from the 1940s where he was making arrangements to come home and visit with friends. Hand-written on good old paper. Also his Naval and Air Force discharge paperwork.

Keep hard copies of your data. Those USB keys are not good for long term storage - just darn easy to transfer data from one computer to another.

OK - how can I get this back on topic so I don't get thumped by Chris. Be sure and store your printouts (and the USB key) in a secure location ready to go when you are bugging out. Tornados are one of the planning scenarios for our area and that USB key is going to be hard to find amid all the kindling that used to be your house. Of course, any paperwork left behind will only be found _Somewhere Over the Rainbow_ . <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Ben

I too have been lurking for a while, but thought this was a good opportunity to post. I've been giving this one some thought for a while. As a computer geek I realize just how vulnerable these things can be. Despite some previous posts, identity theft is a real issue, especially with all of your personal data in one place.

I've been mulling over an emergency USB key with all of my info encrypted with something like PGP (which can incidentally do data wiping). However, without an available kill-switch which would delete data upon an attempt to copy/decipher the encrypted content, it will be fairly vulnerable if it falls into the wrong hands, a real possibility in a disaster oremergency or of course with the more likely theft or loss.

I've been thinking of a modified strategy where I store the basic information on USB that MOST IMPORTANTLY would be CONVENIENT to have handy and yet not able to compromise my security. As an addition, storing the remainder in encrypted file format on my google or yahoo email account (as draft, etc.) would keep it behind my email password as well as encrypted. I would also recommend hiding it via deceptive file naming.

For things like this it's important to have your secured info availble to your spouse and probably a really good friend or two, or at least your lawyer.

Anyway, some things you could keep hand on USB - all in plaintext form so you or others can retrieve it:
1) House Inventory with serial numbers and any special insurance info.
2) Emergency contact Information (Insurance agencies, emergency agencies, police, fire, area hospitals, news broadcast stations, radio frequencies, etc.)
3) Contact numbers for friends and family, your kids' school numbers, work number.
4) Current prescriptions, allergies, medical conditions such as diabetes, etc. This is so you can potentially get prescriptions refilled and so medical personnel or emergency personnel can get it if needed. Eyeglass/contact info would be handy too.
5) Stationary image maps / Mapping software with preloaded maps - all important locales and routes preplanned and marked. Paper version of this probably should be part of a BOB as well as car and hiking kits. I'll assume it's in any aircraft...
6) (potentially encrypted) file with a pre-paid credit card loaded with at least $250 (American Express). This, even if stolen can't go past the amount listed, and I think you can get them without personal info tied to them.... a similar idea is an emergency gas card number, area hotel gift card number, pre-paid phone card, etc. Even Travelers Cheques numbers which you could claim as destroyed/lost and have them replaced wherever you arrive.
7) Candid pictures of yourself and your family with your names printed with the picture - use ones which could not conceivably be hacked into a fake ID like a Drivers license, etc. - slightly at angle, not complete face shot, etc.

Any other non-personal information that's likely to be needed by you or those who find you (hopefully alive if not conscious).

*****

Some things for your Google or Yahoo or other web-accessible email. I recommend keeping it at more than one in case one goes down:
1) Medical Records with social security number tied to them. Plain text will do, but scanned in with MRIs, X-Rays, etc. would be good.
2) SSN (Social Security Number for those overseas) - whatever your National ID card is. - Scanned in.
3) Drivers License - Scanned in.
4) State ID Card - Scanned in.
5) Savings, Checking, Credit Card and Home Safe combination numbers
6) Marriage License and Birth Certificates - Scanned in.
7) Passports - Scanned in.
8) School certificates - although I can't think of any time you'd need this, except perhaps doctors or emergency personnel to prove their bona fides. That means you should also include copies of any certificates you hold along with the contact information of your certification board.

Any other sensitive financial or identification information for which you might have a need.

My point here is that anything on the keyfob should be virtually unusable, even should it fall into "enemy" hands. Thus anything you'd feel uncomfortable leaving around unencrypted in public shouldn't go on here. Anything that you would encrypt should have no ties to your personal data or be a conduit for a crook to retrieve that information based on what's on the key.

I don't think it's excessively paranoid to think that keeping your account and personal info secure is a good thing. If I have your home phone and a clean copy of your birth certificate, I could effectively become you in a matter of hours, opening new accounts, wiping out your existing balances and I'm not exactly schooled in the methods. For a real crook, I would think the less they have the better!

Nice post and good suggestions. And welcome!

My only thought is that scanning important ID's and paperwork to be stored in an e-mail account could present a threat to your privacy.

Couldn't the image files (.jpg, .gif, etc.) be kept in the local computer's internet cache folder? I could see this being a potential problem if you happened to access your e-mail message in a public setting such as on a library computer.

Yes, they would.

Email, even on the server, is a lot less secure than an unencrypted thumbdrive on your person.

Agreed. I operate under the presumption that you have access to multiple machines in several time zones like me... :-) Actually, more to the point, one thing I would almost certainly put on my USB key is a fully functional operating browser like Firefox. I plug in the key, use my browser (with all of my personized settings) and never really worry about the cache since I can put it on the fob or disable caching entirely. One other option, and a good one if you have access to boot a machine, is to put a small Linux Distro on your USB key, make it bootable, and then you operate entirely on your own personal OS. Of course, if you are pulling that information down through a proxy server or some other untrusted place, then do this (which I really didn't make clear): compress all your files into one file, encrypt it, and attach this encrypted file to a draft email document - or send it to yourself so it's in your inbox.

Thanks - nice to make myself visible after reading for several weeks. And good pickup. I sort of glossed over this. I didn't intend for anyone to put those images directly into an email document that has the potential of being cached.

Personally, I go with both the bootable Linux as well as carrying around my own Firefox environment.
Portable Firefox is a good place to start. I recommend Damn Small Linux or
Slax, but there are many fine Live Linux Distros that will work great depending on the size of your key.

Edit: One other thing... I'm not sure that storing files on Google or Yahoo (especially encrypted ones) constitutes a larger security breach than an unencrypted USB key. They are easy to lose, break or drown and the web option keeps your secure data behind the login of a secured email system. I've operated mine for years without any problems whatsoever and they are there even should my USB key not make it out alive. :-)

I would suggest:

1. Making sure it is formatted to FAT32
(this can be read by PC's, Macs, and Linux! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />)

2. Using .txt or .rtf file types
(these are generic, better to stay away from .doc)

3. Survival information
(ex: http://www.ki4u.com/survive/myth11.htm )

4. Information and How-to guides telling how to FIX THINGS.
(Stuff on cars, machines, batteries, GENERATORS, COMPUTERS)




Hope this helps <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Here's what I keep:
Bank Account #s, Bank phones
Contacts list and PLAN of Contact with
Evacuation - rendevous Plans
Credit card account and cust. svc. #s
Driv. Lic / Passports
Home inventory/Photos in 5mpix. resolution
(I've confirmed that I can zoom in on all serial #s)
Insurance documents & Ins. Co. Phone #s
Investment account numbers
Titles and Deeds
Wills and Durable/Healthcare Power of Attorney

I do not worry about the data format, because I think these need to be updated frequently anyway. I use .pdf for documents and .jpeg for the photos. I have verified they are viewable and printable on multiple platforms, and I doubt that these formats will become obsolete without my knowledge (and plenty of time to change formats).

They are encrypted using a symetrical public key program, and anyone I would want to be able to access them can. Storage is as follows:
One set burned to DVD and sent to a family member out of town. One set burned to a DVD and stored in my cache. One set is uploaded to my internet email account.

And I feel paranoid doing all that!