What’s the Best Encryption Software?
When it comes to high-end encryption software, it is difficult to judge what the best brands are. At such a high level, opinions are divergent, and the level of security afforded by all companies that rank among the top of their industry is about the same. If you are looking to find the best kind of encryption software available, there are a couple of important things to consider: the encryption algorithm and the encryption key.
A product that uses widely-accepted and time tested encryption algorithms is your best bet. Creating reliable and secure algorithms is very, very difficult. Many encryption algorithms have been developed over the years, but most have turned out to be flawed. In such cases, a security breach becomes simply a matter of time. Encryption algorithms that have stood the test of time include RSA and AES. Make sure that your encryption software provider uses these or another algorithm that is widely accepted the cryptographic community. Such standard encryption algorithms have resisted many different kinds of attacks and are the basis for the best encryption software available.
Stay away from products that claim to be using originally developed encryption algorithms. There’s a chance that these have not been tested against attacks (vetted, in industry-speak) at all. Such ineffective algorithms will result in an ineffective security product. Make sure you check what kind of encryption formula a particular security software brand uses.
The effectiveness of a security algorithm depends in large part on its encryption key. This is the second consideration that you should make when choosing your encryption software brand. The final security effectiveness of an encryption product comes from the length of its encryption key. The longer the key, the more secure the encryption.
Today, the processing speed and power of computers makes certain key lengths obsolete. A hacking method known as “brute force attacks” can break through a key in a matter of days. Brute force is a kind of attack whereby a hacker uses a cracking machine that attempts to guess what the key is by trying out all possible key combinations.
A 40-bit key can be cracked using brute force in 48 hours or less. In addition to length, obfuscation can also be used to increase the strength of a key. When you go shopping for encryption software, make sure that it has an encryption key of at least 128 bits. Considering the speed and power of today’s computers and hacking programs, that is the minimum length you should ask for.
One the best known names in encryption technology is the California-based company Pretty Good Protection, or PGP. PGP’s encryption was developed in the 1990s. Its original purpose was, allegedly, to help individuals living under oppressive regimes protect their personal information.
PGP gained some notoriety in 2003 when it was used by members of an Italian terrorist organization to protect sensitive information from police and government access. Due to PGP’s encryption software’s lack of a back door, police were unable to retrieve the information stored in the terrorists’ palm pilots.
Other well known brands include TrueCrypt
, CryptoSuite and Axcrypt.
If you're not too busy, I was wondering if you could do me a favor? Would you take some time and submit this post to one of the following services, please?
Leave a Reply