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TrueCrypt VS Windows BitLocker

Compare TrueCrypt VS Windows BitLocker and see what are their differences

TrueCrypt logo TrueCrypt

TrueCrypt is a leading cross-platform that provides encryption tools that allow you to migrate any encrypted data to virtual disks images on your systems.

Windows BitLocker logo Windows BitLocker

This topic provides a high-level overview of BitLocker, including a list of system requirements, practical applications, and deprecated features.
  • TrueCrypt Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-06-17
  • Windows BitLocker Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-30

TrueCrypt features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Availability
    TrueCrypt is available for multiple operating systems including Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux, making it a versatile solution for cross-platform encryption needs.
  • Free and Open Source
    TrueCrypt is available for free and the source code is open, allowing for independent verification of the software's security and integrity.
  • Strong Encryption Algorithms
    The software supports strong encryption algorithms such as AES, Serpent, and Twofish, ensuring a high level of data protection.
  • Hidden Volumes
    TrueCrypt allows the creation of hidden volumes, providing an additional layer of plausible deniability.
  • On-the-Fly Encryption
    Data is automatically encrypted and decrypted on access, eliminating the need for manual encryption and decryption processes.

Possible disadvantages of TrueCrypt

  • Discontinued Development
    TrueCrypt development was halted in 2014, which means there are no new updates or official support for the software.
  • Potential Security Vulnerabilities
    Given its discontinued status, any newly discovered vulnerabilities will not be patched, potentially exposing users to security risks.
  • Complex Installation and Setup
    The software can be complex to install and set up, especially for users who are not technically inclined.
  • Legal and Regulatory Concerns
    The use of TrueCrypt may have legal implications in certain jurisdictions where strong encryption is regulated or restricted.
  • Lack of Official Support
    Since the project has been discontinued, there is no official support or help available from the original developers.

Windows BitLocker features and specs

  • Strong Encryption
    BitLocker uses Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) with either 128-bit or 256-bit keys, providing robust protection for data.
  • Seamless Integration
    BitLocker is integrated with Windows OS, making it easy to deploy and manage within the Microsoft ecosystem.
  • TPM Integration
    BitLocker can use the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip to secure encryption keys, enhancing security through hardware.
  • Group Policy Management
    Administrators can manage BitLocker settings and deployment through Active Directory and group policies, making it suitable for enterprise environments.
  • Recovery Options
    BitLocker provides multiple recovery methods, including a recovery key, recovery password, or integration with Active Directory, ensuring data access in case of issues.

Possible disadvantages of Windows BitLocker

  • Performance Overhead
    Encryption and decryption processes can introduce performance overhead, which may affect system performance, especially on older hardware.
  • Compatibility Issues
    BitLocker requires specific hardware features like TPM 1.2 or 2.0, and its usage may be limited or unsupported on some older devices or non-Windows systems.
  • Complex Recovery
    While recovery options are available, they can be complicated to manage, especially for less experienced users or in environments without proper configuration.
  • Limited Non-Windows Support
    BitLocker is designed for Windows OS, making cross-platform accessibility and management challenging, particularly for organizations using multiple operating systems.
  • Potential Data Loss Risk
    Improper management of encryption keys or accidental disk damage can lead to data loss, emphasizing the need for careful setup and key management.

TrueCrypt videos

Truecrypt review

More videos:

  • Review - TrueCrypt Security Review - AT&T ThreatTraq #138 (2 of 7)
  • Review - Life After TrueCrypt. What are the Alternatives?

Windows BitLocker videos

No Windows BitLocker videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to TrueCrypt and Windows BitLocker)
Security & Privacy
30 30%
70% 70
File Encryption
32 32%
68% 68
Encryption
36 36%
64% 64
Security Tools
15 15%
85% 85

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare TrueCrypt and Windows BitLocker

TrueCrypt Reviews

5 best TrueCrypt alternatives to encrypt your data today
TrueCrypt was a well-known open-source and free platform offering hardware and disk data encryption. It facilitated building encrypted partitions in any hardware such as USB flash drives. Also, it helped in creating simulated encryption disks within one file. However, after its discontinuation in 2014, many services came into play providing similar features, thus serving as...
6 TrueCrypt Alternatives for Reliable Data Encryption
VeraCrypt owners built the tool from an earlier TrueCrypt fork, but more recent releases broke with the TrueCrypt volume format, which means the encryption software cannot open existing TrueCrypt encrypted files. Built with the same features and interface as TrueCrypt—which significantly reduces onboarding time—the software was improved with increased iterations per...
Best Disk Encryption Software – the 5 top tools to secure your data
VeraCrypt is a fork of TrueCrypt and is widely considered its successor. It performs all of the same functions as TrueCrypt and then some. VeraCrypt adds security to the algorithms used for system and partitions encryption. These improvements make it immune to new developments in brute-force attacks, according to developers. You can find a full list of improvements and...
5 Best TrueCrypt Alternatives - Open source encryption apps
VeraCrypt is a fork of TrueCrypt and its direct successor. Other than minor branding changes, it front-end looks the same and its functionality is identical to that of TrueCrypt. It basically is TrueCrypt except that its code has been fully audited, problems discovered with TrueCrypt have been fixed, and the app is under active development.
Source: proprivacy.com

Windows BitLocker Reviews

We have no reviews of Windows BitLocker yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Windows BitLocker seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 10 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

TrueCrypt mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of TrueCrypt yet. Tracking of TrueCrypt recommendations started around Jun 2021.

Windows BitLocker mentions (10)

  • The Uber Leak Exposes the Global War on Workers
    The initial yes. Once encrypted you can trigger remote via intune/sccm/MDM https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-overview. - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • Do you protect your privacy using any type of software?
    On linux it you can achive it via LUKS, on windows with the help of bitlocker or preferably veracrypt. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Protecting unencrypted hard drives
    What os are you using? If it happens to be a “pro” version of windows you could use bitlocker full-drive encryption which is built-in. There is one known vulnerability which involves gaining access to the RAM within seconds of shutdown, but that’s easily averted by keeping the computer in your possession for a minute or two after shutting it down. Source: about 3 years ago
  • AMD - Stutter Experienced with fTPM Enabled - AGESA 1207
    There's additional info about bitlocker and tpm here. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Any automated tool for Windows 10 Security Hardening?
    There is also bitlocker drive encryption. That is one way to secure your data if you are worried someone can physically remove your drives. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-overview. Source: about 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing TrueCrypt and Windows BitLocker, you can also consider the following products

VeraCrypt - VeraCrypt is a free open source disk encryption software for Windows, Mac OSX and Linux.

Axcrypt - AxCrypt - Password Protect Files With Strong Encryption. AxCrypt is the leading open source file encryption software for Windows.

Advanced File Security Basic - Download Advanced File Security Basic. Protect files by encrypting them with a strong password, a series of questions, or even an USB key you can carry around with this powerful security solution

Knox - Knox offers easy disk image encryption and comes with a built-in backup service.

AES Crypt - AES Crypt is an advanced file encryption utility that integrates with the Windows shell or runs from the Linux command prompt to provide a simple, yet powerful, tool for encrypting files using the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).

Cryptomator - When it comes to saving your files on a cloud server, it is important to ensure the security of those files. Keeping your delicate files out of the wrong hands can save you a lot of time and hassle. Read more about Cryptomator.