Disk encryption Vs File encryption

Nowadays it's more important than ever to keep information safe in this internet-connected society. Your data, whether it's personal or professional, is constantly at risk of slipping into the wrong hands, which is all the more reason to use the finest encryption software available. Data encryption is a crucial component of safeguarding data. It is the process of scrambling text (called ciphertext) to make it unreadable to an unauthorized user at the most basic level. Encryption can be applied to individual files, folders, volumes, or whole drives on a computer or USB device, as well as information in the cloud.

Just as security tech is taking steps to increase the safety of your information, hackers are finding new ways around them as a result, to defeat them new encryption techniques are always being developed. Let’s dive into popular encryption methods, types, and how it can help you.

Files and Folder encryption

A file or folder encryption system encrypts particular folders, files, or volumes. This enables users to control who gets access to what information. it's a way of preserving large amounts of data or protecting sensitive data not just over the internet, but also in transit, usage, and storage. Since file encryption uses fewer resources, it has a lower impact on system performance. A file-based encryption system is akin to a lockbox kept in a bank vault. Even if the vault is broken into, each box has its own layer of protection within that requires concentrated effort to break. Similarly, if your device is hacked, lost, or stolen, a third party will be unable to open your files and folders since each file is encrypted and no one will be able to access them without the key. AxCrypt is an example of a free open-source files/folder encryption software available for Windows, Android, iOS, and even macOS. AxCrypt makes data more secure whether it is being transported or at rest. Users can take full control of their data.

Disk encryption

Full disk encryption (FDE) is, as the name implies, encryption at the disk level. When data is written to or read from a disc, it is automatically encrypted. It encrypts all files on the hard drive, including the operating system and file system. It's only used to keep files safe while they're in storage or not in transit. Full disk encryption works in a similar way to locking a house's outer doors but not its internal rooms. Of course, it's a good idea to secure the front entrance so that attackers can't easily get access, but if they manage to enter, they'll have full access to everything inside. In the same way, disk encryption secures information as a whole by turning all of it into an unreadable code that is difficult for unauthorized individuals to understand.There are two main types of disk encryption, which we'll go over in detail below.

Disk encryption with BitLocker

BitLocker is a full-disk encryption technology included in the newest Windows operating systems (Windows 10) that encrypts data on hard drives using AES (128 and 256-bit) encryption. When BitLocker Drive Encryption is activated, and the user adds new files, BitLocker will encrypt them automatically. BitLocker with TPM protection prevents out-of-OS alteration of boot components by using the Static Root of Trust Measurement. BitLocker requires the user to enter a recovery key only when disk corruption occurs, or when he or she loses the PIN or password.

Disk encryption with FileVault

FileVault is a full disk encryption feature from Apple built into macOS. FileVault, like BitLocker for Windows, provides robust encryption for files and data on Mac computers, safeguarding the whole disk and all of the contents on it. When FileVault is turned on, it operates quietly in the background, encrypting all device data on the fly and without causing any interruptions.

Both BitLocker and FileVault are disk encryption software that functions in the same way but on different operating systems. Both are for safeguarding data on workstations and mobile devices at storage and are capable of encrypting entire hard drives,including both system and data drives.

FileVault full-disk encryption (FileVault 2) uses XTS-AES-128 encryption with a 256-bit key to help prevent unauthorized access to the information on macOS. FileVault encodes the information stored on your Mac so that it can’t be read unless the login password is entered.

BitLocker supports encrypted hard drives with built-in encryption hardware, allowing administrators to manage them using the same BitLocker administration tools. File-based encryption is transparent encryption that fills in the gaps where full disk encryption falls short. When BitLocker is enabled on a system drive and the PC has a TPM, you can choose to require that users type a PIN before BitLocker will unlock the drive. With disk encryption, the data is only protected for as long as it’s on the disk; if a user removes a file from an encrypted device, that file is no longer secured. Furthermore, if the entire system is physically hacked, disk encryption is unreliable. As a result, for the vast majority of cases, the file-based encryption approach is the best option.

AxCrypt works with file encryption and it's best for protecting data on cloud storage and when you like to share your encrypted data. AxCrypt uses 256-bit encryption to protect your data at all three phases of its lifecycle: at rest, in transit, and in use. AxCrypt allows secured files to be opened by other AxCrypt users with their own passwords and it's also easier to safeguard your online assets. AxCrypt automatically encrypts data on Google Drive, Dropbox, and other cloud storage providers. Users may send an encrypted file via email, which means that even if the email is hacked, the encrypted file will not be compromised, and it can be accessed only with a unique key. In addition, it provides a collaboration tool that allows users to share secured files and data with other users with key sharing features. Read more about AxCrypt’s key management feature here: https://axcrypt.net/blog/fundamentals-of-key-management

Moreover, AxCrypt provides features like password management, password generator which generates passwords and ensures the passwords are as secure as possible, file wipe, etc. Read more about the AxCrypt features here