Deriving a symmetric key from an asymmetric key for file encryption or decryption

1. A method comprising:

accessing a private key of an asymmetric key pair in a key device;

deriving a symmetric master key from the private key of the asymmetric key pair;

storing the symmetric master key in a computer storage location outside of the key device;

retrieving the symmetric master key from the computer storage location for encrypting a file encryption key;

encrypting the file encryption key using the symmetric master key retrieved from the computer storage location, the encryption occurring while the key device is deactivated; and

encrypting a file using the file encryption key.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is performed within an encrypting file system (EFS).

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the EFS includes a cryptographic service provider (CSP).

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the symmetric master key is associated with a distinct application program.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the symmetric master key is associated with a first user, further comprising:

decrypting the encrypted file encryption key using the symmetric master key;

decrypting the encrypted file using the file encryption key;

retrieving a public key associated with a second user; and

encrypting the file encryption key with a public key associated with the second user.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising accessing the file by the second user.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the private key is associated with the first user, further comprising, decrypting the encrypted file encryption key, using a private key associated with the second user.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

deriving an updated symmetric master key using the private key associated with the second user;

updating the file encryption key with the updated symmetric master key.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the public key associated with the second user is obtained from an operating system.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the public key associated with the second user is obtained from the file system.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the public key associated with the second user is obtained from a digital certificate.

12. A method comprising:

receiving an encrypted file and an encrypted file encryption key;

retrieving a symmetric master key from a computer storage location, wherein the symmetric master key was derived from a private key on a key device and the retrieving of the symmetric master key is performed while the key device is deactivated;

decrypting the encrypted file encryption key using the symmetric master key; and

decrypting the encrypted file using the file encryption key.

13. A method according to claim 12 , further comprising:

retrieving the private key from the key device;

deriving the symmetric master key from the private key, wherein the private key is part of an asymmetric key pair; and

storing the symmetric master key in the computer storage location.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the method is performed within an encrypting file system (EFS).

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the EFS includes a cryptographic service provider (CSP).

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the symmetric master key is associated with a distinct application program.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the symmetric master key in a computer memory location includes a first symmetric master key and a second symmetric master key, the first symmetric master key is associated with a first application program to operate under a first security profile, and the second symmetric master key is associated with the second application program to operate under a second security profile.

18. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

accessing a private key associated with a first user, of an asymmetric key pair associated with the first user, the private key of the first user being in a key device;

deriving a symmetric master key associated with the first user from the private key associated with the first user;

storing the symmetric master key associated with the first user in a computer storage location outside of the key device;

retrieving the symmetric master key associated with the first user from the computer storage location for encrypting a file encryption key;

encrypting the file encryption key using the symmetric master key associated with the first user, encrypting the file encryption key is performed while the key device is deactivated;

decrypting the encrypted file encryption key to create a decrypted file encryption key;

encrypting a file using the decrypted file encryption key;

decrypting the encrypted file using the decrypted file encryption key;

obtaining a public key associated with a second user; and encrypting the file encryption key with the public key associated with the second user.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , further comprising instructions for performing the step of updating file encryption key to be encrypted with a symmetric master key associated with the second user, upon the second user opening the file.