Windows encryption / security options?

Phrozenpenguin

Phrozenpenguin

Phrozenpenguin

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I haven't been a hardcore Windows user since XP - I'm now a Mac user, but have the need to use a Windows machine. Its for work, so I would like some kind of encryption or enhanced security - like Filevault which is built into Mac OS, and encrypts the whole hard drive.

Is there something similar, preferably built into Windows, which is super easy to set and forget? I'm after ease of use as I plan to roll this out across a number of machines. Windows 7 I imagine. I've seen Truecrypt and mention of BitLocker, but I'm not sure either is an easy set and forget?

Thanks for the input.
 
Bitlocker is easier, but isn't in the home versions, windows 8 has it in the version pretty much everyone is going to buy - although you loose dvd support for it (no comment).

Truecrypt is set up and forget, but if you ever do forget it i.e. loose the disk, you're screwed :p
 
Last edited:
Azuse05 said:
Bitlocker is easier, but isn't in the home versions, windows 8 has it in the version pretty much everyone is going to buy - although you loose dvd support for it (no comment).

Truecrypt is set up and forget, but if you ever do forget it i.e. loose the disk, you're screwed :p
Click to expand...

Pretty much this. It forces you to create a rescue disc so as long as you keep this safe and have a good password Truecrypt works great. If you have lots and lots of machines then it's worth looking into bitlocker.
 
Yeah, Bitlocker is good but they made it an Enterprise only feature which was a bit tight imo so I've used Truecrypt over the last few years. Thankfully in Win8 the feature seems to have trickled down to the Pro version, which is great news. I use Bitlocker To Go all the time.
 
Does truecrypt also enforce the encryption of removable drives you add to the machine (or else mounts them read only)? That part of the bit locker setup I have to work with ticks me off, so I wouldn't set it up at home even if I could.
 
That must be some policy setting because I use a mixture of encrypted and unencrypted drives all the time (Bitlocker To Go). To answe your question, no, Truecrypt doesn't enforce a similar policy.
 
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