True Crypt, Cryptainer

[Jeff]

I am trying to select a good "on the fly" encrypting product for sensitive
files on my laptop (XP MCE).

Anyone familiar with True Crypt (http://www.truecrypt.org/) or Cryptainer
(http://www.cypherix.co.uk/index.htm). Both products seem very similar but I
am not equipped to compare.

Any suggestions or references?

Jeff

 

[Malke]

I am trying to select a good "on the fly" encrypting product for
sensitive files on my laptop (XP MCE).

Anyone familiar with True Crypt (http://www.truecrypt.org/) or
Cryptainer (http://www.cypherix.co.uk/index.htm). Both products seem
very similar but I am not equipped to compare.

I'm not familiar with Cryptainer, but True Crypt is recommended by
security experts whom I respect.

Malke

 

[Guest]

Likewise done some trials of True Crypt, though I don't use it myself the
trials indicated it to be a good product, and the writers seem to have a very
professional attitude.


Main thing with any encryption is to have a backup, as it CAN go wrong, and
if it does, your data is quite literally toast.

 

[d.p.larsen]

I am trying to select a good "on the fly" encrypting product for sensitive
files on my laptop (XP MCE).

Anyone familiar with True Crypt (http://www.truecrypt.org/) or Cryptainer
(http://www.cypherix.co.uk/index.htm). Both products seem very similar but I
am not equipped to compare.

Any suggestions or references?

Jeff

I, personally, use TrueCrypt on my work laptop to store sensitive data,
as well as on my home PC's and have been very impressed with it. I
downloaded Cryptainer to give it a throw as they also have a free
version for Pocket PC, but I have not installed them yet on my PC nor
Pocket PC.

D.L.

 

[Jeff]

Thank you for all the information and advice. They are greatly appreciated.

I have used Cryptainer ME (the paid version because the free version only
created volumes too small for my needs) for years and have been very happy
with it. I have only recently heard of TrueCrypt which is why I asked the
question.

However, the experts I've talked to all say good things about TrueCrypt and
most do not know Cryptainer. I will probably therefore switch to TrueCrypt.

Here is what Cryptainer's author wrote to me when I asked him the same
question:
"Sorry I've never user Cryptainer. Try asking on our forums. However, I
suppose Cryptainer is closed source, which is unacceptable for security
software. The possibility of unrestricted peer review is very important."

Cryptainer is in fact closed source. Not sure why that is important though.

I hear you all about backups and I do have a good backup policy to a
external drive which I follow regularly.

Again, thank you. Very helpful.

Jeff

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

In

Likewise done some trials of True Crypt, though I don't use it myself
the trials indicated it to be a good product, and the writers seem to
have a very professional attitude.


Main thing with any encryption is to have a backup, as it CAN go
wrong, and if it does, your data is quite literally toast.

Literally? As in, you can spread it with butter and jam?
I guess "your data is figuratively toast" doesn't make as emphatic a
catchphrase.

However, I do agree with your backup comment, as many people have discovered
to their dismay that encryption really does work.