Hello All, Is there any product on the market aside from axcrypt and aescrypt that is targeting file/folder encryption?
Plenty: http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/free-windows-desktop-software-security-list-encrypting.htm
I took my office completely paperless (about 4 gigs , mostly PDFs ). I have been using axcrypt successfully for the last year. Is there another tool that you would recommend? I would like AES 256 with a good algorithm that will encrypt and decrypt both the files and the folder.
Well, if it works fine for you, why change? Something like 7-Zip is more cross-platform though, but otherwise no need to switch.
I'm not clear what the issue is for you? Is it that you have to enter a password per time? Or that the passwords are all the same? Clearly, something like 7zip (with whatever GUI wrapper comes with it), is similar and has the advantage that you unlock a suite of files at the same time. With either, there is still the problem with unencrypted fragments that the applications leave lying around, but that's not something you can change. I would love there to be a better solution to this (which would allow, for example, different strong passwords for each file, and revocation for users). I have in desperation been contemplating developing a solution which would include two-factor authentication, but this is obviously not that straightforward. If you were an MS shop, the IRM stuff might work for you?
I was just testing the waters to see if there was any new product that offered more that I currently have. I also have use 7-Zip on other projects and it also works quite well. I have read quite a bit on the pitfalls of this type of encryption (i.e.; unencrypted fragments) and was hoping there had been come improvements that I might have missed. Thanks for both of your help.
The problem also extends to search in my experience, and making that possible and secure (given that the files are encrypted). Trouble is, the office suites do not support good document encryption plus the building of secure search indexes. Is that also an issue for you?
Absolutely! That is why I'm always searching for a better tool. I think the need for tools of this nature is evidenced by how many continue to use True Crypt even after they have stopped supporting the product. I think anyone who comes up with an encryption tool that fills all of these voids and facilitates file, folder, and full disk encryption will have a true winner.