AES Crypt. A Simple Cross-Platform Solution for File Encryption.

AES Crypt. A Simple Cross-Platform Solution for File Encryption.

AES Crypt differs from the previously described VeraCrypt and TrueCrypt in that it does not have the capability for "on-the-fly" encryption; it cannot mount cryptographic containers. This program can encrypt a file and decrypt it, but often that is all that is needed.

AES Crypt is a free program, except for the iOS version, that operates based on the AES algorithm (256 bits). Today, this algorithm is considered exemplary in terms of reliability and has been well analyzed; it is accepted as a standard by the U.S. government (I do not recommend blindly trusting their standards, at least due to the Dual EC_DRBG algorithm with a backdoor for the NSA). There are no choices of algorithms or options for combined encryption here.

You might logically ask, why another encryption program when TrueCrypt and VeraCrypt already exist?

There are several reasons to install AES Crypt, the first of which is: sometimes you just need to encrypt a file, without creating a cryptographic container, without mounting it. AES Crypt perfectly solves this task; the file is encrypted in a few clicks and is just as easily decrypted.

The second reason is cross-platform compatibility. You can use AES Crypt on all your devices, including iOS and Android. After encrypting a photo on your iPhone, you can easily decrypt it on your Windows operating system computer. Users of TrueCrypt and VeraCrypt have never experienced anything like this.

AES Crypt also has its weaknesses. When using AES Crypt, you must remember that after encryption, the original file remains on your computer, and it needs to be deleted. But this must be done correctly if you do not want malicious actors to recover the file you deleted in a matter of minutes.

Another feature of AES Crypt is the name of the encrypted file. We have already discussed the importance of the name of the cryptographic container: it should not indicate the content or importance. It is preferable that the names of important documents do not indicate their significance and content, although this is not always possible. AES Crypt does not change the file name, and it is essential to change it manually if it does not meet the aforementioned requirements.

Another downside of AES Crypt is the lack of the ability to encrypt folders. This issue can be resolved by first archiving the folder and then encrypting the archive.