Looking for file encryption alternatives

Discussion in 'encryption problems' started by TairikuOkami, Apr 30, 2016.

  1. TairikuOkami

    TairikuOkami Registered Member

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    I have just found out, that AxCrypt went rogue with the newest version, not just an intrusive advertising, but also crashes and does not work, something that has never happened before. I need encryption software to be 100% reliable, since I entrust it with my precious files. So I am looking for some alternatives for file encryption, not drive encryption. Please recommended something well tested or less known, but guaranteed to work. Thanks. :)
     
  2. mirimir

    mirimir Registered Member

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    GnuPG? You can do key-based or passphrase-based. It even compresses some. And you can get either binary or ASCII-armored output (which is nice for pastebins).
     
  3. TairikuOkami

    TairikuOkami Registered Member

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    Thanks for suggestion. It looks, that it is gonna take me a while to figure out, how to actually encrypt a file. I will go through manuals. :D
     
  4. Carver

    Carver Registered Member

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    Wow, I downloaded the new version of Axcrypt before work didn't have time to install it. I guess I will be looking for a new encryption software for my files also.
     
  5. mirimir

    mirimir Registered Member

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    There are GnuPG packages for Windows, OSX and Linux. And they all work the same at command line.

    Let's say that you want to encrypt something to me. Get my public key from Keybase: https://keybase.io/mirimir/key.asc and save it locally. Then import the key:
    Code:
    gpg --import key.asc
    To list keys:
    Code:
    gpg --list-keys
    Get the keyid (17C2E43E for me). To encrypt to a public key:
    Code:
    gpg -e -o cyphertext.gpg plaintext.txt
    GnuPG will prompt for a key. For me, use 0x17C2E43E. Enter "y" to allow use of untrusted key. That gives you a binary output. For ASCII, do:
    Code:
    gpg --enarmor -o cyphertext.asc cyphertext.gpg
    To dearmor:
    Code:
    gpg --dearmor -o cyphertext.gpg cyphertext.asc
    And to decrypt:
    Code:
    gpg -d -o plaintext.txt cyphertext.gpg
    If you have the private key, you'll be prompted for its passphrase.
    To encrypt to a passphrase:
    Code:
    gpg -c -o cyphertext.gpg plaintext.txt
    You'll be prompted for the passphrase. ASCII armoring, dearmoring and decryption work as above.
     
  6. Tyrizian

    Tyrizian Registered Member

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    Here are two alternatives that I highly recommend.

    Fort - Cryptography Extension for Windows

    and...

    AES Crypt
     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2016
  7. oliverjia

    oliverjia Registered Member

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    Try Peazip. It has a pea format that can encrypt one or more files at the same time without or with compression.
     
  8. Tyrizian

    Tyrizian Registered Member

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    I like the fact that you can create a PEA file extension, with a keyfile and a password combined. To me, this seems extremely secure and quite useful.

    I'm actually going to replace my existing encryption method with this one, thanks.
     
  9. TairikuOkami

    TairikuOkami Registered Member

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    Nice tools, I guess nothing beats AxCrypt in this way. When opening a file, it keeps it in an vault and after closing it, it encrypts automatically. Not to mention, an additional protection provided by a key file. Well version 1.7 works fine and maybe I will look in to some drive encryption tools after all.
     
  10. TomAZ

    TomAZ Registered Member

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    Is it true that AES Crypt also requires that Microsoft C++ be installed? If so, how large of an install is that?
     
  11. khanyash

    khanyash Registered Member

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    Did you try Fort Encryption recommended by Tyrizian above? How is it?
     
  12. TomAZ

    TomAZ Registered Member

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    Haven't tried it. I'm still using Axcrypt 1.7.2976. I know there's a little more recent Axcrypt build in the 1.7 series, but not sure what changes were made from the version I'm currently using (probably nothing real significant).
     
  13. Tyrizian

    Tyrizian Registered Member

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    It indeed requires an install of Microsoft C++, only if your system doesn't already have it. Installer is no larger than 12MB
     
  14. TairikuOkami

    TairikuOkami Registered Member

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    I decided to give AxCrypt another chance, but it does even start, I do not know, how I have managed to start it before, I guess it was a miracle.
    I tried to register on their forum to ask, how to actually start it, but it does not even let me to do that, it just says invalid, invalid, invalid. :confused: :thumbd:

    EDIT: Thank you. So far, it is the winner, but still looking for something safer and more practical, so I would not have to encrypt it myself again.
     
    Last edited: May 2, 2016
  15. oliverjia

    oliverjia Registered Member

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    Hi,
    What do you mean "that AxCrypt went rogue with the newest version"? You mean the open candy stuff? I just downloaded the most recent MSI version released yesterday, and it does not appear to have opencandy anymore.
     
  16. TairikuOkami

    TairikuOkami Registered Member

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    You have to register, you have to have an internet connection and eventhough I did both, I still can not run it. Not to mention a failed GUI shell.
     
  17. oliverjia

    oliverjia Registered Member

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    I have been using 7-zip to encrypt files. Best part is, it can also save some space by compressing the files. Open source, no adware, no online check. The email registration requirement is what made me not using AxCrypt.
     
  18. TairikuOkami

    TairikuOkami Registered Member

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    The new version has just been released, AxCrypt now seems to open, but it stays minimized. :thumbd:
    How can someone destroy such a nice software is beyond me, do they even test before release?
     

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  19. Bob D

    Bob D Registered Member

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  20. TairikuOkami

    TairikuOkami Registered Member

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    I have been finally able to start, thanks to a helpful fellow from AxCrypt, so at least I can test it now and see by myself, how good or bad version 2 is.

    http://www.axcrypt.net/forums/topic/minimized-at-all-times

    Apparently removing files from %localappdata%\AxCrypt\ resets it.

    I still find forceful login unacceptable, I prefer an offline software, not cloud based, especially encrypting sensitive files.

    EDIT: The only thing I can say is: OMG, what they have done?! The password used to login to the account (stored online) is used to encrypt all files. :eek:

    Simply put, it is no longer a file encryption software, but a folder encryption tool. AxCrypt is dead. :'(

    Not to mention, it is not an open source anymore and they are kind of missing the whole point of the encryption thingy, files are not supposed to be easily accessible and recoverable. http://www.axcrypt.net/forums/topic/password-question
     
    Last edited: May 8, 2016
  21. oliverjia

    oliverjia Registered Member

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    I hate to use any password stored online to encrypt my files. Online password managers have been hacked more than a couple of times. AxCrypt people does not seem to understand the whole point of encryption. I have been amazed from time to time how stupid or arrogant certain software developers could get. Fortunately AxCrypt is not the only file encryption tool. Looks like AES Crypt could also be used, which is also open source. However, again, 7-zip is still my file encryption tool of choice.
     
  22. TairikuOkami

    TairikuOkami Registered Member

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    Just a quick notice, after trying out to point the difference, I got a reply, which speaks for itself, any further discussion with them is just pointless.

    http://www.axcrypt.net/forums/topic/axcrypt-2-0-and-1-7/
    Managing those files was as easy as pie, they do not even know their product or I really wonder, is it theirs? Is it not another company, which just took over somehow, because: According to them, using a single password for everything is way better. Coming from a company, which is supposed to keep files secure, that is not just an outrageous statement, it is insane. I wonder, what has gone wrong then? I smell a conspiracy theory. :doubt:

    EDIT: In the end, I have decided to go with default password protection in LibreOffice, it is AES, so it should provide a sufficient protection.
     
    Last edited: May 18, 2016
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