Free file encryption software?

EileenH

Can anyone recommend free encryption software that I can use to protect files on my pc and also on my usb pen drive? I've been looking at WinEncrypt, has anyone tried it or know of any better ones?

Mr_Skint_2

https://www.winzip.com

EileenH

I use winzip occasionally for compressing and sending files by email but I didn't know that you could password protect them.

Mr_Skint_2

Yeah you can password protect em quite handy.

EileenH

Thanks I will check it out further.

Genghis

You could try something like Axcrypt.. its a free file encryption program and about as securre as you'll ever need. http://axcrypt.sourceforge.net/

Right click on a file you want to encrypt and press encrypt.. enter a passphrase and its done

sra

Truecrypt is excellent

http://www.truecrypt.org/

The manual makes is look a bit of a chore to learn, but if you just stumble through the wizards - using defaults usually, you get the hang of it pretty quickly.

You just:

Create a truecrypt volume using the wizard - You can usually use defaults and 'blowfish' encrytion for fastest results.
This leaves a file on your desk you can move about and put anywhere. You can rename it with any file extension to hide it - Truecrypt doesn't care.


When you want to encrypt files just go through the wizard to mount the file. You'll end up with an extra drive on your computer where you can add and remove files. Just di-smount (un-mount?) the drive using the same wizard when your finished and no-one can get at your files.

There's even a function to make hidden volumes inside other volumes.

sra

Just found a tutorial with images

http://66.249.93.104/search?q=cache:zyeWkII7NDwJ:forums.livingwithstyle.com/t128104-file-protection-using-virtual-mounted-drives--win-.html+truecrypt+tutorial&hl=en&client=firefox-a

EileenH

Thanks sra and Genghis for your recommendations. Truecrypt looks very secure but complicated, I'm going to try AxCrypt as it looks simple to use.

LittleJo

Hi,
When I was on WIN98 I used SCRAMDISK which was brilliant and dead easy. It did not work on WINXP, which I now have. Anybody know of anything similar as the ones mentioned here are encryption , SCRAMDISK was a series of hidden volumes that files could be hidden in.
Jo

peter999

WinZip has encryption facility.

peter999