Trend Micro Vault - Frequently Asked Questions

How does Trend Micro Vault protect sensitive files?

The Trend Micro Vault provides a secure password-protected place to store your sensitive files. When you report your computer as lost or stolen, the Trend Micro Vault automatically seals shut, blocking access to everything inside, even if someone has the correct password.
 

What type of encryption protects files in the vault? 

The Trend Micro Vault uses the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm with a 128-bit key to keep files secure. Only by using highly sophisticated decryption tools could someone access the files within a reasonable amount of time. Your security also depends on the strength of your password, so make sure not to choose an obvious one.

Why does the Trend Micro Vault require initialization? 

Providing an email address and password to initialize the Trend Micro Vault protects the contents and allows you to recover the password if you forget it.
 

Where is the Trend Micro Vault? 

Access the vault by double-clicking the Trend Micro Vault icon on the Windows desktop. If locked, the Trend Micro Vault will request your password.
 

How do I unlock or lock the Trend Micro Vault? 

Right-click the Trend Micro Vault desktop icon and select the option you want. You will need to provide a password when unlocking the vault.

Which files should I protect?

You might want to use the Trend Micro Vault to protect files like these:

• Local copies of online receipts or confirmation messages from online purchases
• Password lists
• Confidential business files
• Files containing personal information
   

I forgot my password. What should I do? 

You can retrieve your password using the email address you provided when setting up the Trend Micro Vault. To access the password-retrieval system, right-click the Trend Micro Vault icon on the desktop, and then select either Open or Unlock Vault, and click the Retrieve your password by email link in the window that opens.

Trend Micro will automatically send your password to the email address provided when you set up the password, so make sure that you can access that account. If you provided the wrong email address, then someone else might receive your password instead.
 

Can I change my password?

Keep your password confidential to ensure that your files stay safe. If someone else learns your password, modify it immediately.

To edit your password, open the main console of your security software, click the Settings button, expand Other Settings, and select Password.

How do I select a strong password?

Follow the guidelines below to select a password that others will find difficult to guess:

• The longer the password, the better.
• Avoid names or words that would appear in a dictionary. If using common words, use phonetic replacements to obscure them. For example, you might use "l8" for the word "late," or "f@st_t@lk3r" instead of "fast talker."
• Use a combination of mixed-case letters, numbers, and other characters.
• Avoid simple patterns like "101010" or "abcde."
   

Can I change my email address?

Follow the steps below to edit the email address that should receive your password reminder.

1. Open the main console of your security software and click the Settings button.
2. Expand Other Settings and select Password.
3. Click the Change email address link, then provide your current password and the new email address that you want to use.
    

Can I use the Trend Micro 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 Trend Micro Vault differs from a normal Windows folder in a few ways:

• Dragging a file or folder into the vault will move it there, rather than just copying it, even if you hold down the Ctrl key while clicking the file.
• When you drag a file or folder out of the vault, a backup 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.
• You cannot click and drag a file already in the vault directly into a folder also stored within the vault.
   

What happens if I open a file in the Trend Micro Vault, and then it locks? 

If you have a file inside the Trend Micro Vault open when it locks, just enter the Trend Micro Vault password before saving it again.
 

Can I open files in the Trend Micro Vault? 

Yes, you can directly open files stored in the Trend Micro Vault.
 

Can I create files and folders directly in the Trend Micro Vault? 

You can create folders directly in the Trend Micro Vault, but not files. When you finish working on a sensitive file, move it into the vault.
 

Will other people sharing my computer have access to the Trend Micro Vault? 

People who log into the same computer using another user name and password will not have access to the Trend Micro Vault.
 

How do I report my computer as 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. After you report the computer as lost, the Trend Micro Vault will disappear from the desktop and seal itself shut. Nobody can open a sealed Trend Micro Vault until you report the computer as found.
 

How soon can the Trend Micro Vault seal shut after I report my computer as lost or stolen?

With an Internet connection available, the Trend Micro Vault regularly contacts Trend Micro to check on the status of your computer. If you report your computer as lost or stolen, the Trend Micro Vault will disappear from the desktop and seal shut immediately whenever the Trend Micro Vault next checks in.
 

Should the Trend Micro Vault be locked or unlocked after I restart my computer? 

When your computer restarts, the Trend Micro Vault will be locked for your protection. The vault also locks when your computer returns from Screen Saver mode.
 

How do I regain access to the Trend Micro Vault after recovering my computer? 

You need to report that your computer has been found through the Report Stolen service. Trend Micro Vault checks with this service regularly to determine the status of your computer. The Trend Micro Vault will reappear on your Windows desktop and unseal itself automatically once your report that the computer has been recovered. After unsealing, the Trend Micro Vault will remain locked until you provide the correct password.
 

What happens if I accidentally delete the Trend Micro Vault folder? 

You cannot delete the Trend Micro Vault icon from the desktop, but you can delete the folder itself in other ways. Deleting the Trend Micro Vault folder also deletes all of the protected files inside.
 

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