So long, TrueCrypt: 5 alternative encryption tools that can lock down your data

Open-source legendTrueCrypt may be gone, but the usefulness of full disk encryption carries on. So what's a crypto fan to do now for their encryption needs?

Well, you couldcontinue to use older versions of TrueCrypt if you already have it installed. While the security community wasshocked earlier this week when the anonymous team behind the open source encryption tool seemingly shut down the project, leaving a neutered version 7.2 build of the tool that's only good for decrypting existing TrueCrypt volumes,a public audit of the TrueCrypt source code for version 7.1 was already underway and that effort will continue, according to the Open Crypto Audit Project.

The first phase of the TrueCrypt audit found no serious problems with the Windows build of TrueCrypt.If TrueCrypt 7.1 gets a clean bill of health it would continue to be a viable encryption option, though it's not clear if the encryption tool's development can or will continue under new management.

But if the brouhaha has you feeling skittish, or if you want to move on to encryption software that's actively being developed, options abound. As popular as it is (was?), TrueCrypt is far from the only encryption tool around. In fact, many mainstream operating systems already come with an encryption tool built-in.

Here's a look at a few full disk encryption options that can take the sting out of TrueCrypt's sudden disappearance.

BitLocker is built into select versions of Windows.

The most obvious alternative for Windows users is Microsoft's built-in utility, BitLocker. The encryption program is included in Windows 8 and 8.1 Pro editions, which means anyone who switched to Windows 8 during the $40 upgrade deal has BitLocker on their PC.BitLocker is also available on Windows Vista and 7 PCs running the Ultimate or Enterprise editions.

Check out ourtutorial on BitLockerto get started with Microsoft's encryption tool.

If you don't have the right flavor of Windows, another choice is Symantec Drive Encryption. While this program is just as closed-source as BitLocker, it implements PGP, a well known encryption method.

If you need further reassurances, security expert Bruce Schneier recently told The Register that Symantec's tool is what he's going to use post-TrueCrypt. That's good enough for me. SDE costs $110 for a single user license.

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So long, TrueCrypt: 5 alternative encryption tools that can lock down your data