Veracrypt (an alternative)

[Peltiq]

Does anyone know of a reliable and free alternative to Veracrypt?

I need to be able to encrpyt a 8GB USB stick which contains a few private documents and spreadsheets.

I installed Veracrypt today having previously used Truecrypt and found that everything seemed to take ages to do. It took about 5 minutes to mount my encrypted folder and a further 5 mins to dismount everything at the end after I had finished with it.

There has to be an easier way.

Many thanks

Karen

[NomoneyNohoney]

Use Truecrypt 7.1 or earlier, before the security situation arose.

[Stompa]

Veracrypt has a 'TrueCrypt Mode':

https://veracrypt.codeplex.com/wikipage ... %20Support

which I seem to recall is much faster, though less secure (comparable with TrueCrypt itself).

Stompa

[Peltiq]

Thanks for the two comments.

I have installed Trucrypt 7.1a and it's faster than a racer snake.

https://www.truecrypt71a.com/downloads/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3OjfK0t1XM

Karen

[stevensfo]

Thanks for the two comments.

I have installed Trucrypt 7.1a and it's faster than a racer snake.

https://www.truecrypt71a.com/downloads/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3OjfK0t1XM

Karen

I've used the free opensource Axcrypt for nearly 20 years and it's always been very easy to use. Simple right-click menu and also has a nice delete function that overwrites files. Initially I tried Truecrypt but found it difficult. Maybe I should go and try the newer version.

Steve

[NomoneyNohoney]

No! Go and find the older version...

[stevensfo]

No! Go and find the older version...

Well the version of Axcrypt I'm using is pretty old. It's been asking me if I want to update for years now but I can't see the point.

How is the older version of Truecrypt more secure?

Steve

[NomoneyNohoney]

. Initially I tried Truecrypt but found it difficult. Maybe I should go and try the newer version.

Steve

I took it that you were thinking of trying Truecrypt again, hence my comment. If it was Axcrypt you were referring to, then no reason to change, if it does what you want.

[NomoneyNohoney]

How is the older version of Truecrypt more secure?

Steve

PS/ If you are asking why the older version of Truecrypt is better, then you need to be aware of what happened with Truecrypt.
This link http://arstechnica.com/security/2014/05 ... tly-warns/ explains, but briefly, the developers suddenly gave warnings that their product should no longer be used, and then stopped further developments.

It was inferred that a situation had arisen that they weren't happy with, and the implication was that their product from that point on had become insecure, perhaps as a result of NSA interference. Hence, without knowing for sure, it has been assumed that the last 'safe' version of Truecrypt was 7.1, and ones after that might be compromised with backdoors or insecurities.

[Breelander]

It was inferred that a situation had arisen that they weren't happy with, and the implication was that their product from that point on had become insecure, perhaps as a result of NSA interference. Hence, without knowing for sure, it has been assumed that the last 'safe' version of Truecrypt was 7.1, and ones after that might be compromised with backdoors or insecurities.

No one knows for sure. The alternative explanation is that after 10 years work the original developers got tired of it and wanted to cast doubt and uncertainty to stop anyone else developing it further.

But that's not the way the Internet works. Having created something of such enduring value, which inherently requires significant trust and buy-in, they are rightly unable to now take it back. They might be done with it, but the rest of us are not.

https://www.grc.com/misc/truecrypt/truecrypt.htm

[stevensfo]

PS/ If you are asking why the older version of Truecrypt is better, then you need to be aware of what happened with Truecrypt.
This link http://arstechnica.com/security/2014/05 ... tly-warns/ explains, but briefly, the developers suddenly gave warnings that their product should no longer be used, and then stopped further developments.

It was inferred that a situation had arisen that they weren't happy with, and the implication was that their product from that point on had become insecure, perhaps as a result of NSA interference. Hence, without knowing for sure, it has been assumed that the last 'safe' version of Truecrypt was 7.1, and ones after that might be compromised with backdoors or insecurities.

Thanks for the link. From what I can make out, it's not very clear at all, which surprises me. Many years ago when I downloaded Axcrypt, I remember a security forum where these programs were being discussed and people were analysing the code and saying there were definitely no backdoors etc, so surely it must be possible to check the new version? In those days, I went through a security 'phase' and had great fun experimenting with Steganography programs, hiding stuff inside photos, mp3 files etc. All complete overkill, but interesting.

Steve