Types of Encryption Software
Dozens of modern encryption cyphers are used in the computer security field. Some of the most popular are PGP, Blowfish and AES encryption. Since the open-source software community embraces encryption, there are several free and open software solutions for those wanting to utilize these encryption algorithms. There are also several commercial solutions for those looking for professional over community support.
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Types
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The most common and probably best encryption software available is from PGP. Pretty Good Privacy offers email, hard disk, portable and network storage encryption solutions. Its software is usually the "go to" for system administrators looking to encrypt their data and have among their clients, such big names as H&R Block and Bertelsmann.
Another free solution is GPG, the GNU open-source implementation of the OpenPGP standard. GPG is a standard among Linux users who like GNU software. It offers a wide variety of features.
TrueCrypt is another program that allows you to encrypt using several different types of cyphers. TrueCrypt encrypts an entire volume on a hard drive and then mounts that as a virtual volume, keeping your data secure. It runs on Windows, Mac OS and Linux and is open-source, keeping it a scalable cross-network solution for keeping disks encrypted.
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Considerations
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While the PGP software may not be free, there are several advantages to implementing its product suite. One primary reason is that it can overlay on top of an existing network solution without having to modify anything. This creates a seamless implementation. They also provide server options that support up to 1,000 users worth of encrypted data.
GPG, while offering many of these same solutions for free, requires a technical know-how that might escape the home user looking to just keep his home machine secure. There is also the consideration that the PGP solution comes with company-provided technical support while GPG does not.
For a single user just looking to encrypt her own hard drive, TrueCrypt is probably the best solution. While it does not support the OpenPGP cypher, it does allow the end-user to utilize a wide variety of industry standards and comes with an intuitive graphical interface for the non-technical enthusiast.
Features
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PGP provides its clients with full technical support, a major advantage in large-scale software implementation. It also provides encrypted server solutions, network encryption and encryption for devices coming in and out of the office, such as laptops, CDs, DVDs and any other form of media that could provide a data leak. Since all this is wrapped in an easy-to-implement package, it makes for an attractive solution.
GPG, on the other hand, has a community support that can be helpful if the user really finds himself in trouble. While it may not come in the aesthetically pleasing package that the PGP products do, it can be implemented, with work, to do all the same functions and for free.
TrueCrypt lacks any of the fancy features that would make GPG and PGP attractive but comes with its own mash of attractive features, including the implementation of multiple cyphers. It also comes with binaries for any operating system where with the others you would need to find ports.
Benefits
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Since GPG and TrueCrypt are open-source, there is the undercurrent that your freedom is then maintained as well. With open-source applications, you are able to view and modify the source-code to your liking, making it possible to check the security of your package. GPG also refuses to implement any patented algorithms so you know that by using its software that you are contributing to a more open world of software.
The same can be said on the inverse, however. PGP could be more secure because of its closed source-code. Since it cannot be viewed and perused by hackers, it will be harder for someone to find a way to crack into your data. Of course, once its encrypted with modern algorithms, it would take a few years to break the code.
Significance
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With modern telecommunications taking the route they are, it becomes easier for hackers and data thieves to intercept and acquire your information daily. The expansion of wireless networks into the 4G/LTE solutions makes our data near freely available. Choosing to use and support an open-source encryption solution, such as GPG or TrueCrypt, to keep your data safe will help to develop further these free products. Couple them with a VPN tunnel; you can be secure in knowing that your data is going to make it to its destination without being read by anyone else.
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References
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