Free hard disk encryption software for windows

R-Crypto Disk Security 1.5 is a user-friendly, secure and reliable disk encryption software that protects your confidential information and personal data on a desktop, notebook, or a removable data storage device against unauthorized access.

To protect the data R-Crypto creates encrypted virtual disks (virtual data storage devices). These disks provide real time data encryption and decryption which are fully transparent to the user, it means that the data is being encrypted just before it is being written to the disk and is being decrypted right after it is being read from the disk without the need of user intervention. All data (such as file and folder names, and content of all files) stored on such disks is constantly encrypted. The access to data on the virtual encrypted disk is impossible unless the user provides a correct password. At the same time, all file and disk operations for connected virtual encrypted disks are performed the same way as for standard disks.

All data of the encrypted virtual disk is stored together with the disk meta-data in a single file-container. That means that a virtual encrypted disk is actually an ordinary file that can be stored on any data storage device, like a hard drive, USB-disk, CD, DVD, or a network resource, and can be easily transferred to another computer or backed up.

R-Crypto encrypts the data on virtual disks using the cryptographic infrastructure of the Microsoft Windows operating system. This infrastructure allows the users to use various installable cryptographic service providers, including those that are already pre-installed. For example, Microsoft AES Cryptographic Provider is one of the pre-installed cryptographic service providers in Windows XP and Vista that implements the modern and most secure encryption algorithm: Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) with key length of 128, 192, and 256 bits.

Such approach allows the users to select themselves the cryptographic sub-system that satisfies their requirements. It also reduces limitations on the use of R-Crypto in companies that require certification for such products to meet certain governmental or corporate standards.

R-Tools also continued to buff and bolster the performance and features of other high-performance utilities in its line-up of recovery solutions. R-Crypto, is now available free of charge for home users.

Major Features:

1. Simple and easy-to-use interface
   • R-Crypto Management Panel providing access for the user to all actions of the system.
   • Wizard guiding the users through the creation of encrypted disks.
   • List of the most frequently connected encrypted disks (can be disabled).
   • Configurable list of auto-connected encrypted disks.
   • Change the size of the encrypted disk easily.
   • Access to encrypted disk control actions outside the R-Crypto Management Panel directly from the Windows shell (for example, connect/disconnect).
   • Special icon for connected encrypted disks in the Windows shell (can be disabled).
   • Access to most R-Crypto actions from the Windows system tray.
2. Safe and reliable data encryption and protection
   • Users can use various cryptographic service providers, both pre-installed in the Windows operating system and available from the third parties.
   • Disk free space encryption (can be disabled).
   • Wizard guiding the users through the disks re-encryption.
   • Ability to connect an encrypted disk in the read-only mode.
   • Configurable hot keys to disconnect either all connected encrypted disks, or each disk separately.
   • Automatic disconnection of all connected encrypted disk upon user's logoff.
   • Ability to automatically disconnect the encrypted disks upon screensaver startup, entering the hibernation mode, or computer lockup.
   • Ability to automatically disconnect the encrypted disks upon encrypted disk file-container storage media is removed from the system.
   • Ability to automatically disconnect the encrypted disks upon exceeding an encrypted disk inactivity period. Inactivity period is a period of time when the connected encrypted disk is not being used, that is it is a period of time when no data is being read from the disk or being written to the disk.
   • Ability to enforce the disconnection of locked encrypted disks upon automatic disconnection.
   • File-containers of the connected encrypted disks are protected against re-writing and deletion.
   • Wipe encrypted disks for secure deletion..
3. Using over network
   • Ability to create and connect encrypted disks' file-containers located on any accessible network location;
   • Connecting an encrypted disk emulating a "local disk" to provide access for remote users (required for Windows XP and later versions);
   • Automatic saving and restoring of the encrypted disk network sharing options.
4. Advanced usage
   • Ability to connect the encrypted disk to an empty NTFS folder (e.g. C:path-to-empty-NTFS-folder).
   • Support for system disk utilities (check disk, defragmentation, etc.).
   • Command-line utility to manage encrypted disks' connections.
5. R-Crypto supports the following cryptographic providers and their respective algorithms that are pre-installed in the Windows operating system by default
   • Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/Windows 7
   • • Cryptographic providers Microsoft Enhanced Cryptographic Provider and Microsoft Strong Cryptographic Provider
     • Hash Algorithms
     • Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA-1)
     • Message Digest (MD2, MD4, MD5)
     • Encryption algorithms
     • RSA Data Security's (RC2, RC4)
     • Data Encryption Standard (DES)
     • Two Key Triple DES
     • Three Key Triple DES
   • Windows XP/2003/Vista/Windows 7 only
   • • Cryptographic providers Microsoft Enhanced RSA and AES Cryptographic Provider
     • Hash Algorithms Secure
     • Hash Algorithm (SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384, SHA-512)
     • Message Digest (MD2, MD4, MD5)
     • Encryption algorithms
     • RSA Data Security's (RC2, RC4)
     • Data Encryption Standard (DES)
     • Two Key Triple DES
     • Three Key Triple DES
     • Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) - 128, 192, and 256 bit key lengths

Enhancements: Includes unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.

Requirements:

• An Intel-compatible platform running Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/Windows 7 Beta (32 and 64 versions).
  
• At least 10 MB of of free disk space to install the program and enough disk space for encrypted disks file-containers.
  
• Internet Explorer 6.0 or later.
  
• The administrative privileges under Win 2000/XP/2003/Vista/Windows 7 Beta are required during installation to install R-Crypto.
  

Disk Index 1.5 is created to be a straight forward tool which is very efficient for examining disk information. Disk Index scans any disk (hard disk, CD-ROM and network disk) for files and folders and writes the list and disk summary to a regular text file so it can be viewed with any text viewer or editor. Use Disk Index to get insight in all your files and folders on a disk, or catalogue your CD/DVD collection with it.