New BestCrypt Software Helps Protect Your Files
Looking for a way to securely store your files and folders on your computer? With a new, updated version released today, BestCrypt Container Encryption might be your answer. BestCrypt ($60) lets Apple, Windows and Linux users create encrypted sections on their hard drives, called containers. Files saved to these containers will be protected from any prying eyes.
BestCrypt is now easier to use; when creating a new container, users can add files to the container even before the often-lengthy encryption process is completed. Containers can now be over 2 terrabytes in size.
MORE: How to Encrypt Your Files and Folders
In addition to Windows 8 compatibility, BestCrypt Container Encryption works with Windows 10 Technical Preview, the early access version of Windows' next operating system. The product also comes bundled with BCWipe, a secure file deletion program also by security company Jetico.
Users can also choose from a range of encryption algorithms, including AES, Blowfish, Triple-Des and Twofish.
BestCrypt Container Edition can't do full-disk encryption, however. Instead, the company offers BestCrypt Volume Encryption ($99.50), a Windows-only program that can encrypt a computer's whole hard drive and is compatible with both MS-DOS-style partitions and RAID volumes. BestCrypt Volume Encryption sits just below the operating system, decrypts your hard drive when you start up the computer, and locks it all up again when you're done.
BestCrypt bills itself as an alternative to TrueCrypt, a popular and free disk encryption program. But last May TrueCrypt's website put up a mysterious notice: "WARNING: Using TrueCrypt is not secure as it may contain unfixed security issues." The notice also implied that TrueCrypt's latest version, 7.2, was insecure.
A group of independent security researchers are still doing an audit of TrueCrypt, and say that TrueCrypt 7.1 may still be trustworthy.
Recent Apple and Windows operating systems come with some type of file encryption already built in: TrueVault and Encrypting File System respectively. However, neither lets users create discrete encrypted containers like BestCrypt or TrueCrypt do. Some users also value using a third-party service instead of the built-in options on a computer.
Both BestCrypt Container Encryption and BestCrypt Volume Encryption come with a 21-day free trial.
Jill Scharr is a staff writer for Tom's Guide, where she regularly covers security, 3D printing and video games. You can follow Jill on Twitter @JillScharr and on Google+. Follow us @tomsguide, onFacebook and on Google+.
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