The number of cybercrimes is growing every day. Even when people install several anti-malware programs on their computers, the fear of ransomware and data breaches still exists. However, you can lessen this concern by simply encrypting the hard disc, which is a basic security procedure. When a hard drive is encrypted, its data is encoded using certain algorithms and a special key. Only individuals with the proper authorization can access the data on an encrypted hard disc after encryption. Use some of the top hard drive encryption tools to accomplish this.
We’ll talk about some of the best HDD encryption software in this article. So, without further ado, let’s get to the list of hard disc encryption software we have specifically chosen for you.
6 Best Free Hard Drive Encryption Software For Windows
Here we have listed some of the best hard drive encryption software available for Windows in 2022.
1. BitLocker
The first name on our list is BitLocker. It is an in-built free hard drive encryption software of Microsoft Windows. The HDD encryption utility supports both 128 and 256 Advanced Encryption Standards. It even allows you to encrypt the entire hard disk and volumes. You can rely on BitLocker without any doubt, as it is a default utility of Microsoft Windows. It can also encrypt the newly added files automatically after getting enabled on a hard drive. Along with all these features, the software is quite easy to use and completely free. You can even encrypt your external hard drive using BitLocker.
2. AxCrypt
AxCrypt is another powerful software to encrypt your hard drive. The free version of AxCrypt offers security to your hard drive by encrypting it with the 128 and 256 Advanced Encryption Standards. Along with the internal drives, the software is also well known for encrypting external drives. This external hard drive encryption software can also encrypt some online drives, including Google Drive and Dropbox. It is a cross-platform software. Hence, the encrypted data can even be accessed by a smartphone that has been synchronized with the software.
Also read: Hard Drive Cloning Software for Mac 2022
3. Gpg4win
The OpenPGP encryption standard was initially created for Linux. However, Gpg4win provides a Windows-based graphical front interface. Therefore, you can secure not only your data but also your emails and other things with it. However, this discussion only addresses the file encryption component to keep things simple.
Install Gpg4win first, being sure to include the GPA (GNU Privacy Assistant) sub-module in the setup process. Next, you must generate a special safe key using Gpg4win’s GNU Privacy Assistant, which is done by hashing personal data such as your name, email address, and password. Once generated, this key can be used to sign emails digitally, encrypt files and folders, and more. In addition, it is compatible with all cryptographic standards, including Open PGP and S/MIME (X.509).
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4. VeraCrypt
The next name on our list of some of the best hard drive encryption software is VeraCrypt. The drive encrypting software is quite reliable when it comes to providing security to the data on your drive. It can provide encryption with Serpent and Two Fish algorithms, along with the 256 Advanced Encryption Standards. It is a modern version of Truecrypt, which was a well-known drive encryption software a few years ago. So, if you have enjoyed using Truecrypt, then you’ll surely like VeraCrypt. Along with all these features, VeraCrypt is entirely free. You can use it on multiple platforms, including Windows, Linux, etc. However, the software’s user interface may seem quite complicated if you don’t have much knowledge and experience in using such software. But it is open-source software, and you can make customizations to the software as per your preferences.
5. DiskCryptor
DiskCryptor is another open-source drive encryptor software on this list. The software enables you to encrypt a drive and its partition as well. Along with encrypting internal drives, DiskCryptor can also even encrypt external drives, including USB flash drives. Despite being an open-source encryption software, it is quite different than 7-Zip. It provides encryption with various other algorithms, including Serpent and Twofish, along with 256 Advanced Encryption Standards. The DiskCryptor also provides one of the most intuitive user interfaces as compared to other alternatives. Therefore, it is a good choice if you are looking for easy-to-use, customizable, and powerful HDD encryption software.
Also read: Best Free Hard Drive Recovery Software for Windows 10
6. 7-Zip
Here comes highly customizable hard drive encryption software. It is open-source software, and that’s the reason why it is so customizable. It is quite easy to use and hence, considered one of the best hard drive encryption software. The software is completely free and can even encrypt the entire hard drive along with volumes. However, 7-Zip only provides encryption with 256 advanced encryption standards. Apart from all these things, you can also use 7-Zip as file compressor software. You can even download some additional builds of this software and use it on other operating systems as well, such as Linux.
Conclusion
These are a few of the best hard drive encryption software, so utilize them to protect the data on your drives. However, using just one security measure is insufficient. In order to assure comprehensive protection, we advise using both effective internet security software and anti-malware software. Subscribe to our blogs to learn more about these essential Windows PC tools.
