TrueCrypt
TrueCrypt is a freeware utility used for on-the-fly encryption (OTFE).
- Free • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
...
Discontinued
Currently unmaintained. Last version, TrueCrypt 7.1a, is still available for download and development has continued via the forks VeraCrypt and CipherShed. "The development of TrueCrypt was ended in 5/2014 after Microsoft terminated support of Windows XP. Windows 8/7/Vista and later offer integrated support for encrypted disks and virtual disk images."
[TrueCrypt is not exactly "Open Source", but the source is available. See the reviews to get more information.]
TrueCrypt is a disk encryption software for Windows Vista/XP, Mac OS X, and Linux.
Creates a virtual encrypted disk within a file and mounts it as a real disk.
Encrypts an entire partition or storage device such as USB flash drive or hard drive.
Encrypts a partition or drive where Windows is installed (pre-boot authentication).
Encryption is automatic, real-time (on-the-fly) and transparent.
Parallelization and pipelining allow data to be read and written as fast as if the drive was not encrypted.
Encryption can be hardware-accelerated on modern processors.
Provides plausible deniability, in case an adversary forces you to reveal the password:
Hidden volume (steganography) and hidden operating system.
TrueCrypt is a disk encryption software for Windows Vista/XP, Mac OS X, and Linux.
Creates a virtual encrypted disk within a file and mounts it as a real disk.
Encrypts an entire partition or storage device such as USB flash drive or hard drive.
Encrypts a partition or drive where Windows is installed (pre-boot authentication).
Encryption is automatic, real-time (on-the-fly) and transparent.
Parallelization and pipelining allow data to be read and written as fast as if the drive was not encrypted.
Encryption can be hardware-accelerated on modern processors.
Provides plausible deniability, in case an adversary forces you to reveal the password:
Hidden volume (steganography) and hidden operating system.
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Security & PrivacyTags
- encrypt-usb-drive
- disk-encryption
- on-the-fly
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TrueCrypt
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Our users have written 12 comments and reviews about TrueCrypt, and it has gotten 861 likes
- Developed by TrueCrypt Foundation
- Open Source and Free product.
- Average rating of 3.5
- 94 alternatives listed
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View allTrueCrypt was added to AlternativeTo by on Apr 15, 2009 and this page was last updated Mar 12, 2019.
Truecrypt is depracated. Veracrypt has inherited the code, added new functionality and improved security. Don't use Truecrypt, use Veracrypt; it's still open source, free and every bit as useful.
Truecrypt did pass a security audit, but since then vulnerabilities have been found. VeraCrypt, which also open source, has taken on the TrueCrypt code and improved it, including in terms of security. VeraCrypt is backwards compatible with TrueCrypt containers. You should use VeraCrypt from now on, and convert your containers to the VeraCrypt format.
[No.][non-cc]
TrueCrypt has not been approved under the [Open Source Initiative][1]. This is due to not following [The Open Source Definition][2] for software.
It is also using a custom licence which has been vetted and mandated as non open-source.
This is why TrueCrypt does not have the status: "Open Source".
(N.B. Wikipedia's status on TrueCrypt is just ["source-available"][4])
[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Source_Initiative
[2]: http://opensource.org/docs/osd
[3]: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/ForbiddenItems#TrueCrypt
[4]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TrueCrypt#ref_a
[non-cc]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TrueCrypt#Licensing_and_Open_Source_status "Wikipedia: "TrueCrypt - Licensing and Open Source status""
Free, but...
When one mean's "free" as in:
"Free at point of downloading": Yes
["Libre software definition"][1]: No
Be advised that according to the Fedora Project's "[Forbidden Items][2]" page:
This is indeed true as it states in the [licence][lic] (Section VI.2):
A more detailed breakdown summation of the licence can be found here: [FreeDesktop.org - TrueCrypt licensing concern.][3]
[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software "Wikipedia: "Free software""
[2]: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/ForbiddenItems#TrueCrypt
[3]: http://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/distributions/2008-October/000276.html
[lic]: http://www.truecrypt.org/legal/license "TrueCrypt License Version 3.0"
This is the best encryption software I've ever seen, out of a dozen of encryption software I've tried. Finding this application was a real stroke of luck (Thanks to alternativeTo). With a novice-friendly interface and explanatory wizard it provides a great way to encrypt existing partitions/drives and to create new encrypted file containers. A TrueCrypt file container can function as an ordinary volume by mounting it as a virtual disk and the concept of hidden volumes takes data security to a whole new level. On-the-fly encryption provides access to the data while keeping it encrypted at the physical level. If there were a rating system here, I would give it 5 out of 5.