File encryption programs

[CharleZzZ3]

Hi. Do you guys use some kind of file encryption programs for security? Preferably free or freemium at least. As of right now I've found NordLocker, AESCrypt and VeraCrypt as potential options. What do you think? Is it even necessary anyway? I already have a password on my laptop.

[tifino]

 a helpful provider tech site, that can liase you to the original service provider authors: 

 

majorgeeks [encryption]

 

[KhunBENQ]

In the past I used TrueCrypt in the last trustful version 7.1.

There was much speculation why they suddenly gave up.

Maybe the recommendation by Snowden earned them a nice gag order?

 

Since a while I use the succesor VeraCrypt.

Both Truecrypt and VeraCrypt are open source products that have undergone code reviews.

 

Be aware that VeraCrypt is not meant for encrypting on a file by file base but creating volumes (like drives) which you can use like any other drive after mounting.

Not so handy for single files.

But way more secure than file compression tools or the like.

VeraCrypt volumes can be opened on Android (Smartphone) with EDSLite app.

I use it exclusively for passwords/credentials, credit card data etc.

 

Never use encryption tools that are not open source.

 

Edited January 30, 2020 by KhunBENQ

[Tayaout]

Can recommend veracrypt. 

[bendejo]

6 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

In the past I used TrueCrypt in the last trustful version 7.1.

Well, it still works and is as solid as ever ????

 

This is the last version before the controversy, which came up in 2014 I believe.  The reasons were confusing, and I'm not going to start a discussion of, already plenty of those on the net.

 

In fact, I just started planning a new volume this morning.

 

Hadn't heard of veracrypt until this post.  From

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TrueCrypt

Quote

VeraCrypt is a fork of TrueCrypt. Security improvements have been implemented and issues raised by the TrueCrypt code audit just before the TrueCrypt developers retired have been addressed.

 

Seems the old tc volumes are not compatible.

 

 

Edited January 30, 2020 by bendejo

[KhunBENQ]

12 hours ago, bendejo said:

Seems the old tc volumes are not compatible.

My tc volume created in April 2018 with 7.1 can be opened without any problem.

Maybe it's read-only, no saving of changes? I didn't check/care as I moved it to Veracrypt's hc volume.

Edited January 31, 2020 by KhunBENQ

[topt]

On 1/31/2020 at 3:05 PM, KhunBENQ said:

My tc volume created in April 2018 with 7.1 can be opened without any problem.

I have older one's tested with VC and no issues.

The only difference I noticed is that after putting the password in TC seems to open the encrypted volume much quicker than VC does for some reason.

[DaveBKK]

Veracrypt is best used for creating an encrypted container to put files on your HD or flash drive or such.

 

For encrypting on cloud storage such as Google Drive or M$ OneDrive, use Cryptomator. This encrypts file by file and better manageable for cloud storage.