Serious Discussion What is a good Alternative for AES Crypt?

[Morro]

OK, the title shows my question. I am looking for a good free opensource replacement for AES Crypt. It used to heve a free version, but I did not see that this is no longer the case. Now after 30 days you need to buy a license? Since I only use it for personal files, I am not going to spend money on a paid program. So if any one knows about a good free alternative, then please tell me. (I already know about Veracrypt. )

 

[Wrecker4923]

For individual files, PrivacyGuides recommends PicoCrypt (FOSS, audited). See this link:

Recommended Encryption Software: VeraCrypt, Cryptomator, and OpenPGP - Privacy Guides

Encryption of data is the only way to control who can access it. These tools allow you to encrypt your emails and any other files.

www.privacyguides.org

 

[TairikuOkami]

For an occasional encryption, you can use any compressing software.

 

[Morro]

For an occasional encryption, you can use any compressing software.

Oh frack ... why did I not think of that. Nanazip can help me with that, thanks for remembering me about that.

 

[Captain Awesome]

VeraCrypt also a good choice

 

[RoboMan]

VeraCrypt is TrueCrypt's natural successor. It's free, open-source, and up-to-date.

It works the same as the aforementioned. You can create a hidden or visible container, and throw any kind of file you wish in there.

Protection algorithms are strong and can be combined.

 

[rashmi]

For individual files, PrivacyGuides recommends PicoCrypt (FOSS, audited). See this link:

Recommended Encryption Software: VeraCrypt, Cryptomator, and OpenPGP - Privacy Guides

Encryption of data is the only way to control who can access it. These tools allow you to encrypt your emails and any other files.

www.privacyguides.org

PicoCrypt seems like a pretty neat tool. Thank you! I will try it.

 

[Morro]

PicoCrypt seems like a pretty neat tool. Thank you! I will try it.

I agree.

 

[rashmi]

I agree.

I gave the portable version a try. PicoCrypt offers a straightforward interface for file encryption and decryption; just drop files onto the portable executable. It produces an encrypted zip file upon dropping a folder or multiple files. There are also a few advanced options.

 

[rashmi]

The developer archived the PicoCrypt project!

 

[Parkinsond]

User passwords are transformed into a 256-bit key using a key-derivation function (KDF). The latest version of AES Crypt uses PBKDF2

AES - Advanced Encryption Standard

AES Crypt is an advanced file encryption software product for Windows, Mac, Linux, and BSD systems

www.aescrypt.com

7-Zip can offer the same encryption.
If looking for better encryption, then Veracrypt (using Argon2id), followed by Peazip (using scrypt).

 

[Parkinsond]

PicoCrypt seems like a pretty neat tool. Thank you! I will try it.

Picocrypt uses XChaCha20 instead of the more standardized AES-256; in addition, its key derivation is Argon 2 (less efficient than Argon2id), but still better than PBKDF2 of AES crypt and 7-Zip.

 

[Wrecker4923]

The developer archived the PicoCrypt project!

Apparently, the developer, a software engineering university student, decided that with the current trends in "AI-slopping" in vipe coding and the corporate demand for it, he is no longer interested in a software engineering career and has chosen to move into academic research, leaving behind the motivation to maintain the project. The project has been forked into "Picocrypt NG", with unknown developers. PicoCrypt has been dropped from the privacy guide's recommended software, with some members planning to continue using the unmaintained PicoCrypt until...