Save 85% on The Economist today!CNET Editors' review
The ultimate freeware encryption program, TrueCrypt is loaded with powerful features for anyone who is concerned with protecting their data from thievery.
It offers 11 algorithms for encrypting your private files in a password-protected volume, with full support for Snow Leopard. You can store your encrypted data in files (containers) or partitions (devices). TrueCrypt works hard to offer powerful data protection, recommending complex passwords, explaining the benefits of hidden volumes, and erasing telltale signs of the encryption process, including mouse movements and keystrokes. Though the interface may not be immediately intuitive, its powerful, on-the-fly, no-cost encryption still earns the freeware security tool a top rating.
The useful tips in the extensive help manual and volume-creation wizard provide excellent guidance. In fact, they're required reading, as TrueCrypt lacks any considerable in-program help. One obvious downside of any strong encryption program is if you happen to forget your lengthy, secure password, you should consider any protected files as good as gone. However, once files are mounted to a local drive with your password or key, they conveniently behave just like any normal files, allowing you to easily open, copy, delete, or modify them another way. Dismount the volume, and voila--your previously accessible files are now safely secure from prying eyes.
Users can even create a hidden operating system, encrypted away from nosy busybodies, but make no mistake--TrueCrypt is not for the casual encryption explorer. Be sure to thoroughly understand what you're doing with the program before you do something you'll regret.
Publisher's Description
From TrueCrypt Foundation:
TrueCrypt is a software system for establishing and maintaining an on-the-fly-encrypted volume (data storage device). On-the-fly encryption means that data is automatically encrypted or decrypted right before it is loaded or saved, without any user intervention. No data stored on an encrypted volume can be read (decrypted) without using the correct password/keyfile(s) or correct encryption keys. Entire file system is encrypted (e.g., file names, folder names, contents of every file, free space, meta data, etc).
What's new in this version:
- Full support for Windows 7.
- Full support for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.
- The ability to configure selected volumes as 'system favorite volumes'. This is useful, for example, when you have volumes that need to be mounted before system and application services start and before users start logging on. It is also useful when there are network-shared folders located on a TrueCrypt volume and you need to ensure that the network shares will be restored by the system each... See all new features
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All versions:
3.9 starsout of 10 votes
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Current version:
5.0 starsout of 1 votes
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"Keep your data safe"
Version: TrueCrypt 6.3
Pros
Easy to install and use.
Cons
Nothing at all.
Summary
I need to be able to use a 16GB USB thumb drive on Macs and PCs and I have set this up with 4 encrypted "containers" of just under 4GB each, and an unencrypted area just over 100MB. The latter houses TrueCrypt for PC which I can run from the thumb drive when I am at a PC. There are plenty of choices of encryption, including triple encryption to make sure that no-one gets their hands on your data. Just make the passphrase long and complex, and most of all, keep it to yourself. This is an application that I would not be without.
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