Free file encryption utilities

Files with AxCrypt can be decrypted on demand or kept decrypted while they're in use, and then automatically re-encrypted when they're modified or closed. It's fast, too, and allows you to select an entire folder or just a large group of files and encrypt them all with a single click.

It's entirely a file encryption tool however, meaning creating encrypted volumes or drives is out of its capabilities. It supports bit AES encryption only, offers protection against brute force cracking attempts, and is exceptionally lightweight less than 1MB. Those of you who nominated AxCrypt noted that it's really easy to use and easy to integrate into your workflow, thanks to its shell support. If you're eager for more options, it also has a ton of command line options, so you can fire up the command prompt in Windows and perform more complex actions—or multiple actions at once.

It may not support the strongest or most varied encryption methods available, but if you're looking to keep your data safe from most threats, it's a simple tool that can lend a little security that your data—like files stored in the cloud on Dropbox or iCloud, for example—are secure and convenient to access at the same time.

You can read more in this nomination thread here and here. It supports AES and bit encryption, and while it's primarily used for whole-disk encryption, it also supports encrypting other volumes or a virtual drive that can be opened and accessed like any other drive on your computer. It supports multiple authentication mechanisms, including traditional password and PINs, a USB "key," and the more controversial Trusted Platform Module TPM technology that uses hardware to integrate keys into devices that makes encryption and decryption transparent to the user but also comes with a host of its own issues.

Either way, BitLocker's integration with Windows specifically Windows 8 Pro makes it accessible to many people, and a viable disk encryption tool for individuals looking to protect their data if their laptop or hard drives are lost or stolen, in case their computers are compromised, or a business looking to secure data in the field. Of course, it goes without saying that BitLocker was a contentious nomination. More than a few of you touted BitLocker's accessibility and ease of use, and many of you even praised its encryption for being strong and difficult to crack.

Many of you noted that you switched to BitLocker after the developers of TrueCrypt suggested it. Others, however, brought up the assertion made from privacy advocates that BitLocker is compromised and has backdoors in place for government security agencies from multiple countries to decrypt your data.

While Microsoft has officially said this isn't true and maintains there's no backdoor in BitLocker while simultaneously maintaining the code as closed source—but available to review by its partners, which include those agencies , the assertion is enough to make more than a few of you shy away. You can read more about the criticism and controversy at the Wikipedia link above, or in the nomination thread here.

While you can install the command line version on some operating systems, most people choose from the dozens of frontends and graphical interfaces for it, including the official releases that can encrypt everything from email to ordinary files to entire volumes. All GnuPG tools support multiple encryption types and ciphers, and generally are capable of encrypting individual files one at a time, disk images and volumes, or external drives and connected media.

A few of you nominated specific GnuPG front-ends in various threads, like the Windows Gpg4Win , which uses Kleopatra as a certificate manager. Those of you who nominated GnuPG praised it for being open-source and accessible through dozens of different clients and tools, all of which can offer file encryption as well as other forms of encryption, like robust email encryption for example. The key, however, is finding a front-end or a client that does what you need it to do and works well with your workflow.

Even though it's amazing at compressing and organizing files for easy storage or sending over the internet, it's also a strong file encryption tool, and is capable of turning individual files or entire volumes into encrypted volumes that only your have the keys to. It's completely free, even for commercial use, supports bit AES encryption, and while the official download is Windows only, there are unofficial builds for Linux and OS X systems as well. Free File Encrypter is a file encryption tool.

You can encrypt any file with it. You can select input file to encrypt with password and must provide the output file name to complete the process. You have to delete the original file manually after completing encryption process for your own security. BCArchive is a free encryption software. You can encrypt any file or folder into an encrypted archive. You can make self extracting file also.

You can add or delete files or folders to existing archives. The program also installs in Windows context menu and you can create encrypted archives from Windows Explorer easily. It uses SHA Algorithm to encrypt files and folders. You have to set the input and output directory and password or encryption key before creating any encrypted file.

Input and output directory must be different. It also has an option to include subdirectories. ICE Encrypt is a free encryption software to encrypt files or folders. It uses ICESafe encryption algorithm. You can use key file or password to encrypt files or folders. The key size for encryption or decryption is always about 1 million bits so brute force attack against ICE Encrypt is not effective.

You can encrypt any type of file with password with this software. To use the file again you need to decrypt it with the same password otherwise your file cannot be recovered. The program has very simple interface and anyone can use it easily. It requires no installation and can be used as a portable software. PicoCrypt is a file encryption program. It uses Blowfish encryption algorithm in CBC mode to encrypt files.

Whenever you start this program it will ask for entering default password for this session. You can set any password of your choice. To encrypt or decrypt files you can drag and drop files to its window, provide the password to encrypt or decrypt and it will do the task for you. SecureCrypt Ultimate Edition is a simple file encryption software. It has six command icons and one help button. You can use file key or password key to encrypt or decrypt files.

It encrypts and decrypts files using the above method only. PalCrypt is a free file encryption and decryption program. When you run it, it asks for a file to encrypt. You can select any file you want to encrypt and set the password and select one of the encryption methods from the three specified MD5, SHA1, or Blowfish. You can also set any key file for encrypting any file.

To decrypt the file you have to double click on the. PXX file and provide the right password. SiFEU is a free and easy program that lets you encrypt or decrypt files.

It uses very strong encryption algorithms to encrypt files. By default it uses Blowfish algorithm for encryption and SHA1 password hash algorithm. It has various settings like you can leave the original file as it is or delete it or shred before delete options for maximum security. You can also create executable encrypted files.

Silver Key Free is a file encryption program. It encrypts files or folders easily. The encrypted files or folders are called parcels. You can send them safely over the Internet. You can encrypt files or folders with password from Windows context menu. File Encryptor-P is a free file encryption software. It has very simple interface.

You can encrypt any type of file with it. You can select the source file to encrypt and destination encrypted file path automatically comes or you can manually change it. Set the password and press the Encrypt button, the encrypted file is ready for you.

The decryption process is almost same. DP-Multi Crypt is a free file encryption software. It has a drag and drop support. It has a Windows Explorer like interface. You can drag and drop files to its Crypt or Decrypt window and set the password to encrypt them. It also has an option to delete the original file after encryption. Conceal is a free software to encrypt or decrypt any type of file. The main window of the program has two panels for encryption and decryption respectively.

You can drag and drop files or double click on respective panel. It has four encryption options to choose from. Chaos Mash is a free, fast and small utility to encrypt or decrypt files. You can select input and output file to encrypt or decrypt. By default output folder is same as input file folder. You can change it manually. You can set password or key for encrypting file. FileBarricader is a free file or folder encryption utility.

It uses Rijndael AES bit encryption algorithm to encrypt files. You can right click on any file or folder and choose FileBarricader and select encrypt option to encrypt that file or folder. It encrypts the files or folders with password. You can set delete processed files option also. It securely deletes the files. Aes Crypter Lite is a simple and easy to use file encryption utility. You can encrypt or decrypt any file or folder by drag and drop method to its main window after setting password.

It also checks the strength of the password entered. It also has an option to compress files before encrypting.

File Encryption is a free software to encrypt files with password. It has Explorer like interface. You can select any number of files to encrypt or decrypt. You can leave, delete or shred source files after successful operation. You can drag and drop file or browse for the file to encrypt or decrypt.

You can set the password after clicking process button. It uses only one i. AES encryption algorithm to encrypt files. To decrypt the files follow the same process. Cryptography Studio is a free, small, and effective software to encrypt or decrypt files with password.

Its main window has only three buttons as Lock, Unlock, and About. It uses hash type security method to encrypt or decrypt files. You can select any one of them. It requires no installation. The Professional Portable Encryptor is free files and folders encryption software.

It uses various encryption algorithms to encrypt files or folders. It can compress and convert any file or folder to ZIP format with password. It uses AES algorithm to encrypt or decrypt files. It is very easy to use. You can add file or folder through its interface and use Zip command from its toolbar to encrypt it with password. To decrypt the files load the encrypted zip file using Open Zip File and click Unzip button on its toolbar. It has a user friendly interface and anyone can use it easily.

MultiCrypt is a file encryption utility. You can use either single file encryption method or all files from selected folder. You can use password of length between 16 to 32 characters long.

You can use drag and drop feature also. It also has an option to delete original files after encrypting. It has four tabs. Biden to send military medical teams to help hospitals. N95, KN95, KF94 masks. GameStop PS5 in-store restock. Baby Shark reaches 10 billion YouTube views. Microsoft is done with Xbox One. Windows Windows.

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Free File Encryptor doesn't have much of a user interface. All you have to do is right click on a specific file, and select the encrypt option from your context menu. A prompt appears, asking you to input and confirm a password, and, almost immediately, an encrypted file appears in the same location as the original.

Decrypting the file uses the same right-click functionality. Each time we selected a file to encrypt, the program quickly produced an encrypted file.

Likewise, we were able to quickly decrypt the same file. Full Specifications.