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Create Auto-Encrypting "Vaults" with Cryptainer LE
Posted by Kevin Purdy at 2:30 AM on December 22, 2007
Windows only: Free encryption program Cryptainer LE offers an automated, one-container method of securing those files you'd rather others not take a peek at. The application creates a virtual drive on your hard drive, thumb drive or anywhere you want it to, and files placed in that drive are automatically secured with 128-bit encryption. Turn the program off and the drive disappears;turn it back on, enter a password, and you've got your files back. Cryptainer can also send files through encrypted email with decrypting .exes attached, although I question how many email filters that would get through. While the free trial version limits the encryption "vault" sizes to 25 MB, you can create an unlimited number fo them. Cryptainer LE is a free download for Windows systems only.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
Pac Shady
Posted December 22, 2007 11:30 PM
XXDESMUS: TrueCrypt can also be made portable. So you can slap the program on your flash drive and take it with you! Only thing is you need Admin access on the computer you're on, so it can use it's driver. Not sure if this program has the same limitation. Plus, TrueCrypt is MUCH more secure, I have drives encrypted with TrueCrypt with three sequential encryptions on them. Let's see someone break through THAT, hehe ;)
Wouter
Posted 7:56 AM 21/12/07
The application creates a virtual drive on your hard drive
Something which Truecrypt does (without any limitations) for free....
Wouter
Jason
Posted 9:02 AM 21/12/07
I'm a huge fan of TrueCrypt, and when it comes to anything encryption-related I gravitate toward open-source as a much better means of vetting the code. TrueCrypt will work on a thumb drive, offers both stronger and more abundant encryption options, and lacks the silly 25MB limit. My keychain thumb drive is 4 GB, do I really want to encrypt that into 160 little 25 MB vaults? Finally, this "feature" highlight on the Cryptainer website was a huge red flag to me: "Easy to use, Impossible to break." Anyone who calls even 128-bit encryption "impossible to break" exhibits a fundamental ignorance of encryption, Moore's Law, or both. It's why they call it "strong encryption" instead of "impenetrable encryption".
Jason
murph
Posted 8:52 AM 21/12/07
the only problem with True Crypt is the lack of a Mac version. and this app has the same problem, so not very interested.
murph
bubi73
Posted 8:43 AM 21/12/07
Microsoft's My Private Folder does pretty much the same except with portability aspect of it, however neither one has the flexibility of Truecrypt.
bubi73
Myron
Posted 8:32 AM 21/12/07
I'll ask the obvious question: how is this different/better than truecrypt?
(and can I use it to open a letter?)
Myron
Webran61
Posted 8:30 AM 21/12/07
I'd like more storage space than 25 MB for a single volume. This is very impractical for trying to hide a very expansive collection of, shall we say "questionable material."
Webran61
xxdesmus
Posted 8:25 AM 21/12/07
I just like the fact that I can install/run this from my thumb drive. I use portable apps, and I have been looking for a good way to secure all of that important information. I'll give it a shot.
xxdesmus
geek22
Posted 9:52 AM 21/12/07
Why is lifehacker featuring a crippled software when there is an open source and uncrippled equivalents available (truecrypt, freeotfe) ?
geek22
ToddZ
Posted 10:51 AM 21/12/07
I actually bought a Cryptainer license to create a large volume once, and it worked fine until the archive file suddenly became corrupted and irretrievable. I then learned about TrueCrypt and have been using it successfully for over a year now. Just an anecdote - your mileage may vary.
ToddZ
earth2marsh
Posted 10:22 AM 21/12/07
I might be remembering wrong, but I think that TrueCrypt requires admin privs to install a driver... Does Cryptainer require that?
Otherwise, it seems like this app has little to boast about than TrueCrypt, and it isn't OSS.
earth2marsh
molife
Posted 11:58 AM 21/12/07
I've used both - Truecrypt is the way to go.
molife
belch
Posted 11:15 AM 21/12/07
@Earth2marsh I guess I should read before I post... Oh well.
belch
belch
Posted 11:14 AM 21/12/07
Does this require Admin privileges to run? TrueCrypt does, and that's why I can't use it at work. If it doesn't require admin I'll use it simply because I'll be able to use it on a crippled work computer.
belch
xxdesmus
Posted 11:12 AM 21/12/07
Just an FYI, they offer a 50% discount on their software for students.
If TrueCrypt could make a portable version I would absolutely love it. The problem now is that I need something to secure/encrypt my thumb drive. Any ideas?
xxdesmus
SA
Posted 12:25 PM 21/12/07
I use this now and it's ok. The one thing I don't like is not being able to create folders. They definitely need to fix that.
SA
Mark
Posted 2:39 PM 21/12/07
Cryptainer LE is cool but like so many others said before, TrueCrypt is bettah! Happy holidays!
Mark
Mark
eqd
Posted 3:07 PM 22/12/07
truecrypt 5.0 next month is advertised to finally feature osX support....
eqd
univox
Posted 8:44 PM 24/12/07
I'll have to add myself to the running queue:
TrueCrypt is IMHO a superior, on-the-fly encryption tool compared to Cryptainer LE.
univox
belch
Posted 8:40 AM 27/12/07
I answered my own question -- From the website
[www.cypherix.com]
Can Cryptainer be installed without administrator privileges?
...It is not really possible to "bypass" this and let the Cryptainer process/program run under non administrative privileges.
belch