14 DAY TRIAL // Data protection has gone far enough now as to allow users to encrypt the disks so that nobody without the right password could have access to the stored data. In fact, this is the easiest way to keep the sensitive data safe from prying eyes.
The applications able to encrypt the disks are various and some of them are even capable of creating virtual drives with the same purpose of data protection. Virtual drives however have a mischief in that the virtual drives can be deleted. That is why softwares encrypting and hiding physical partitions have priority in my opinion.
The $49.95 Cryptic Disk utility has the property of encrypting and hiding your partitions. The trial version is fully operable and the only limitation imposed by EXLADE Inc, the developer, is the unchangeable "demo" password.
Cryptic Disk uses the AES 256-bit encryption algorithm, one of the most secure and most spread of all. It is said that the FBI and the US Department of Defense are using it. This is not too comfortable as we all know that many times, the servers of these two institutions have been cracked and witty hackers have gained unrestricted access to the secret files.
I think this is the only mischief in what concerns the options provided by Cryptic Disk as experienced users feel a need to more than one encryption algorithm or at least an option that would allow them to add one by themselves.
Both encrypting and decrypting of the volumes are made with an ease and quickness many competitive softwares would envy. The interface is well structured and user friendly. All the icons available and the menus in the right hand of the application window are proving that the developer has designed the application for both neophyte and advanced computer users.
The volumes installed on your PC are displayed in plain view and their status (encrypted, mounted or decrypted) as well as the total size are available. With a right click, you will be able to avoid going to Disks menu in the right and should be able to begin the encrypting process. Applying a password is useless because as I already said before, the limitation of the trial version forces the user to use "demo" as a countersign for opening the disk. The user can choose the password to be visible (and enter it only once) or hide it under asterisks (enter it twice for verification). So the only field left to fill is the username.
The developer makes sure that even if you lose your password, you will still be able to mount the volume. Otherwise, deleting the partition and losing all the data stored is the only option. So Crypt Disk will also generate a random disk encryption key that should be stored in a safe place. Enabling filling the disk with random data will ensure that the previously stored data will be erased and make the analysis of the disk more difficult.
Immediately after the disk is encrypted, you will be prompted with the disk formatting window. This way, you will start storing your files on a slate clean volume.
Cryptic Disk Preferences dialog allows setting it to automatically start with Windows and minimize it to system tray, set the system hotkeys for better maneuverability (show/hide main window, automount encrypted disks and unmount all mounted disks). New Disks Properties section permits mounting disks as removable and cache passwords and keys.
A very good security measure is unmounted encrypted disks if a certain amount of time passes and no activity with the disk is recorded. The user can specify the desired amount of time. Also, if there are files open on the disk, the unmounting can be prevented.
The Good
Easy to use and handle, Cryptic Disk provides the desired privacy for sensitive files and folders. Secret data can be safely stored on the encrypted disk as even hackers would find the AES 256-bit encryption algorithm hard to crack. The encrypted partitions are hidden from the system.
The Bad
A suite of encryption algorithms would have added more value to the application. Also, the price seems a little too high considering that a very good anti virus can easily be purchased with this money.
The Truth
A very good application that provides strong security for your sensitive data. It does not matter the size of the volume as Crytpic Disk will do the job no questions asked.
Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
