PassPhrase

The PassPhrase is your key to encrypt or decrypt data.  Only the correct PassPhrase will decrypt the data correctly.  The PassPhrase can consist of any characters or numbers on a standard English keyboard.  Examples of some:
This is my key
#AAb8=J%.
PeanutButterAndJelly


For optimum security keep the length of your PassPhrase between 10 and 20 characters.  The longer your PassPhrase, the more secure it will be.  You can have less than 10 characters, but 15-20 is highly recommended.

The same kind of security in regard to passwords can be applied here as well.  Avoid phrases that are common, try to keep it very cryptic, use numbers and shifted numbers (!@#...) and so forth.

See PassPhrase Management for information on creating and handling your PassPhrases.  In PassPhrase Management you can define a PassPhrase with a tag for easy retrieval in the application.  This will allow you to devise extremely complex PassPhrases, but select from a more readable description to avoid having to take the chance of mistyping the PassPhrase when you encrypt of decrypt your data.

You will also notice a check box called Use Existing Keys.  What this allows you to do is bypass the creation of the keyspace and use the keyspace already present.  This is for when you have created a special keyspace and have restored it for use.  This is explained in more detail in the PassPhrase Management topic.

Depth

Depth is the security level at which you want to process.  The range is between three and one hundred thousand.  The smaller the number the security is less than at a higher level, although good luck in breaking it at only a Depth of 3.  This aids you in defeating attacks against your encrypted data.  If the Depth programmatically remained the same without your ability to change it, an attacker would have somewhat an advantage.

Bear in mind that the higher the number, the longer it will take to create your keyspace and also encrypt or decrypt your data.  Use high numbers for the most sensitive data and small files.  It is recommended that you create a test file and try different depths to get an idea of how long it would take with different depths.  The default is always set to 20, unless you direct it otherwise.  Even if you have a really fast computer, if you are going to encrypt or decrypt using a Depth of 100000, you will have time to have lunch.

Bear in mind that in addition to the PassPhrase, you will need to remember which Depth you used.  If you are sharing the encrypted file with someone, they will need to know the Depth so they can decrypt it and vice versa.  The PassPhrase Management help topic also handles creating and restoring specialized keyspaces that will help in solving this reminder.