Software review for data encryption

[bosshyip]

I am beginning a series of posts regarding IT security. Looking throughout the forum, I realized, very little attention is put on this subject. People lose their hard earned by making most basic mistakes.
This article is going to be an introductory one and going to touch one of more important subjects: encryption of data. Specifically software for it. This article will give a brief summary of different software Each software is going to have its own separate post with a detailed guide on how to use.
One last note: this article wont cover all the software for encrypting your data as there are many many more of them. I am focusing on the free once that work just as well as a paid one would.

TRUE CRYPT:



Wiki link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TrueCrypt
Project website: https://truecrypt.ch/ http://www.truecrypt.org/
Languages supported: 30, in less common once possible for non full translation .
There will be no guide for this software. Also, I would not use this software.
Current state: Non up to date, project closed on May 28, 2014
Encryption algorithms used: AES, Serpent, Twofish
In reality I wouldnt even have mentioned this software in my article. Upon writing my guide for VeraCrypt, some people mentioned that they use TrueCrypt.
Here I added the description of the software just so people can see that the software hasnt seen an update in 4 years. Even during website visit to the developers they state that using the software is not safe.
You can view this when visiting http://www.truecrypt.org
which forwards you to http://truecrypt.sourceforge.net


VeraCrypt (Windows/macOS/Linux)



Wiki link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VeraCrypt
Site link: https://www.veracrypt.fr
Encryption algorithms used: AES, Serpent, Twofish, Camellia, grasshopper.
Languages: English, Russian +35 more.
Link to installation guide: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3361608
The software encrypts based on the container style. It creates an encrypted archive which you can continue to add/delete/edit files in without re encryption.
I created an article on how to use but it was deleted by the moderators as someone else before me has done that. I will attach that guide as a first comment in this post. Software is free with opensource code. It came out as an alternative for TrueCrypt with manny additions and better changes:

Software weaknesses:
  -Keeping decryption key on the PC's ram memory
If you encrypted with a password, then the password when opening up an archive is saved in the operating random memory (ram) until the next computer restart. Someone may access it remotely or physically interacting with the PC. In theory it is even possible to pull it from RAM after a restart
  -Keyloggers
VeraCrypt cannot promise security if your PC is infected with keyloggers and you are hand typing a password. The solution to this problem is the same as previously: use key file!

AxCrypt (Windows/macOS/Adnroid/iOS)



Under MacOS view only.
English Wiki): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AxCrypt
Website: https://www.axcrypt.net/
Encryption algorithms: AES 128 bits (free), AES 256 bits (paid)
Languages: English, french, german, Swedish, Spanish, Itallian, Turkish, Portugal, Korean.
Link to installation guide: yet to come.
Software is open source, whether free or paid.
Software encrypts specifically files, unlike VeraCrypt which creates encrypted archives.
Encryption can happen with a password or pass key.
Automatic protection AxCrypt of your folder in Dropbox, Google Drive etc (paid version).
Has a possibility to keep files on their own cloud servers (paid version)
Pros: Extremely simple to use. Will encrypt your files in "two mouse clicks"
Cons: Too little encryption algorithms. Same holes in protection as VeraCrypt if you decide to encrypt with a password vs a key file

DiskCryptor (Windows)



Wiki link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DiskCryptor
Site link: https://diskcryptor.net
Algorithms used: AES, Twofish, Serpent
Languages: English, Russian
Link to installation guide: yet to come
Encryption is done on the level of disks and hard drives
Software is free and opensource.
DiskCryptor -One of the fastest drivers for encrypting whole disks with extremely high efficiency use (comparable to a non encrypted disk). Supports acceleration AES.
Uses multiple algorithms in a chain thus keeping the content safe even if one of them gets hacked. The key is randomized and kept in an encrypted way.
Each new software released is signed by a PGP-key of the author
In conclusion to those who keep data on usb drives: All usbs have a life cycle of read/write. Not one usb will live forever. If you have something valuable on your usb drive please make a duplicate. Besides that please do not forget about safe eject of the usb out of the PC. as it can lead to losing all your data. This is speaking from personal experience