{"id":5902,"date":"2014-07-09T10:00:15","date_gmt":"2014-07-09T14:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.nccomputertech.com\/?p=5902"},"modified":"2014-07-09T10:00:15","modified_gmt":"2014-07-09T14:00:15","slug":"so-long-truecrypt-5-alternative-encryption-tools-that-can-lock-down-your-data","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/2014\/07\/09\/so-long-truecrypt-5-alternative-encryption-tools-that-can-lock-down-your-data\/","title":{"rendered":"So long, TrueCrypt: 5 alternative encryption tools that can lock down your data"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Open-source legend TrueCrypt may be gone, but the usefulness of full disk encryption carries on. So what’s a crypto fan to do now for their encryption needs?<\/p>\n

Well, you could continue to use older versions of TrueCrypt if you already have it installed. While the security community was shocked earlier this week when the anonymous team behind the open source encryption tool seemingly shut down the project, leaving a neutered version 7.2 build of the tool that’s only good for decrypting existing TrueCrypt volumes, a public audit of the TrueCrypt source code for version 7.1 was already underway and that effort will continue, according to the Open Crypto Audit Project.<\/p>\n

The first phase of the TrueCrypt audit found no serious problems with the Windows build of TrueCrypt. If TrueCrypt 7.1 gets a clean bill of health it would continue to be a viable encryption option, though it’s not clear if the encryption tool’s development can or will continue under new management.<\/p>\n

But if the brouhaha has you feeling skittish, or if you want to move on to encryption software that’s actively being developed, options abound. As popular as it is (was?), TrueCrypt is far from the only encryption tool around. In fact, many mainstream operating systems already come with an encryption tool built-in.<\/p>\n

Here’s a look at a few full disk encryption options that can take the sting out of TrueCrypt’s sudden disappearance.<\/p>\n

Windows encryption tools<\/p>\n

bitlockericonhero<\/p>\n

BitLocker is built into select versions of Windows.<\/p>\n

The most obvious alternative for Windows users is Microsoft’s built-in utility, BitLocker. The encryption program is included in Windows 8 and 8.1 Pro editions, which means anyone who switched to Windows 8 during the $40 upgrade deal has BitLocker on their PC. BitLocker is also available on Windows Vista and 7 PCs running the Ultimate or Enterprise editions.<\/p>\n

Check out our tutorial on BitLocker to get started with Microsoft’s encryption tool.<\/p>\n

If you don’t have the right flavor of Windows, another choice is Symantec Drive Encryption. While this program is just as closed-source as BitLocker, it implements PGP, a well known encryption method.<\/p>\n

If you need further reassurances, security expert Bruce Schneier recently told The Register that Symantec’s tool is what he’s going to use post-TrueCrypt. That’s good enough for me. SDE costs $110 for a single user license.<\/p>\n

TrueCrypt was free and worked with all flavors of Windows, though. If you’re looking for an encryption tool that can match those prerequisites, check out DiskCryptor. We have a review of the free software and a guide to locking down your files with DiskCryptor available, as well.<\/p>\n

Mac encryption options<\/p>\n

For OS X users, Apple provides FileVault.<\/p>\n

OS X also has its own built-in encryption tool called FileVault 2 for users of OS X 10.7 (Lion) or later. Apple’s solution is another closed source program, but we do know it uses the XTS-AES 128-bit cipher\u2014and the National Security Agency recommends using it for their own employees using Macs. So unless you’re really into conspiracy theories, FileVault is probably a good choice.<\/p>\n

For more tips on how the NSA locks down its OS X machines check out “How the NSA snoop-proofs its Macs.”<\/p>\n

Linux encryption options<\/p>\n

For Linux users, the best choice is to use a distribution with a built-in Linux Unified Key Setup (LUKS) implementation. Ubuntu uses LUKS, and the various distributions based on Ubuntu should all have full disk encryption options available during installation. Here’s how to get started with Ubuntu’s full-disk encryption, courtesy of Ubuntu’s community help documentation.<\/p>\n

It’s a sad day if TrueCrypt has truly disappeared, but at least there are a number of alternatives open to users who need or want to continue encrypting their stuff.<\/p>\n

via So long, TrueCrypt: 5 alternative encryption tools that can lock down your data | PCWorld<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Open-source legend TrueCrypt may be gone, but the usefulness of full disk encryption carries on. So what’s a crypto fan 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is not secure,\u201d official SourceForge page abruptly warns","author":"NCCT","date":"May 29, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"One of the official webpages for the widely used TrueCrypt encryption program says that development has abruptly ended and warns users of the decade-old tool that it isn't safe to use. \"WARNING: Using TrueCrypt is not secure as it may contain unfixed security issues,\" text in red at the top\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Security"","block_context":{"text":"Security","link":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/category\/security\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":8892,"url":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/2016\/04\/18\/spotty-android-encryption-is-the-story-behind-the-story-of-apples-battle-with-the-fbi\/","url_meta":{"origin":5902,"position":1},"title":"Spotty Android encryption is the story behind the story of Apple\u2019s battle with the FBI","author":"NCCT","date":"April 18, 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You can consider OE sort of halfway point between no encryption (known as clear text) and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Software"","block_context":{"text":"Software","link":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/category\/software\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":8666,"url":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/2015\/10\/09\/u-s-will-not-seek-legislation-against-encryption\/","url_meta":{"origin":5902,"position":3},"title":"U.S. will not seek legislation against encryption","author":"NCCT","date":"October 9, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"The U.S. administration will not seek legislation at this point to counter the encryption of communications by many technology services and product vendors, but will work on a compromise with industry, a senior U.S. official said Thursday. \"The administration is not seeking legislation at this time,\" Federal Bureau of Investigation\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Security"","block_context":{"text":"Security","link":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/category\/security\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":8859,"url":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/2016\/03\/07\/following-a-public-outcry-amazon-will-reinstate-encryption-on-its-fire-devices-this-spring\/","url_meta":{"origin":5902,"position":4},"title":"Following a public outcry, Amazon will reinstate encryption on its Fire devices this spring","author":"NCCT","date":"March 7, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"By Rob Thubron | TechSpot There are rare occasions when a consumer outcry can cause a company to reverse an unpopular decision it has made, and it seems Amazon is the latest firm to bow to public pressure. Only one day after an update removed local encryption in its Fire\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Hardware"","block_context":{"text":"Hardware","link":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/category\/hardware\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":9452,"url":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/2018\/11\/19\/internal-bug-discovery-security-now-693\/","url_meta":{"origin":5902,"position":5},"title":"Internal Bug Discovery – Security Now 693","author":"NCCT","date":"November 19, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/ClVI9PMQGCY Australia vs Encryption, Google+ Bugs Hasten its Demise -- Australia's recently passed anti-encryption legislation -- Details of a couple more mega-breaches including a bit of Marriott follow-up -- A welcome call for legislation from Microsoft -- A new twist on online advertising click fraud -- The DHS is interested\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Microsoft"","block_context":{"text":"Microsoft","link":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/category\/microsoft\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/ClVI9PMQGCY\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5902","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5902"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5902\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5902"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5902"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5902"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}