Private Disk

Private Disk is a disk encryption application for the Microsoft Windows operating system, developed by Dekart SRL. It works by creating a virtual drive, the contents of which is encrypted on-the-fly; other software can use the drive as if it were a usual one.

Private Disk
Developer(s)Dekart
Stable release
2.14 / June 20, 2014 (2014-06-20)
Operating systemWindows 9x, Windows NT 4.0 through Windows 8
Available in17 languages
TypeDisk encryption software
LicenseShareware
Websitedekart.com/products/encryption/private_disk/

One of Private Disk's key selling points is in its ease of use, which is achieved by hiding complexity from the end user[1] (e.g. data wiping is applied transparently when an encrypted image is deleted.) This simplicity does however reduce its flexibility in some respects (e.g. it only allows the use of AES-256 encryption.)

Although Private Disk uses a NIST certified implementation of the AES[2] and SHA-256/384/512[3] algorithms, this certification is restricted to a single component of Private Disk; the encryption/hash library used[4][5] and not to Private Disk as a complete system.

Feature highlights
  • NIST-certified implementation of AES-256-bit, and SHA-2. Private Disk complies with FIPS 197 and FIPS 180-2
  • CBC mode with secret IVs is used to encrypt the sectors of the storage volume
  • Disk Firewall, an application-level filter, which allows only trusted programs to access the virtual drive
  • Ability to run directly from a removable drive, requiring no local installation
  • Offers access to encrypted data on any system, even if administrative privileges are not available
  • Encrypted images can be accessed on Windows Mobile and Windows CE handhelds; this is achieved by making the encrypted container format compatible with containers used by SecuBox (disk encryption software by Aiko Solutions)
  • File wiping is applied when deleting an encrypted image
  • PD File Move, a file migration tool, which will locate the specified files on the system and securely move them to an encrypted disk
  • Compatibility with Windows 9x and Windows NT operating systems
  • Autorun and Autofinish automatically start a program or a script when a virtual disk is mounted or dismounted
  • Encrypted backup of an encrypted image
  • Password quality meter
  • Automatic backup of a disk's encryption key
  • Built-in password recovery tool
  • Compatibility with 64-bit platforms

Existing versions

There are multiple versions of Private Disk, which provide a different feature set:

  • Private Disk - hard disk encryption software that uses 256-bit AES encryption, is highly configurable, offers application-level protection, USB disk portability, etc.
  • Private Disk Multifactor is a superset of Private Disk, providing the same functionality, adding support for biometric authentication, as well as smart-card or token-based authentication.
  • Private Disk Light is a free version, it uses AES-128 and comes with a restricted set of features.
  • Private Disk SDK is a software development kit that can be used to build a custom application which provides data encryption facilities.

See also

References
  1. "Our philosophy". Dekart.
  2. "Advanced Encryption Standard Algorithm Validation List". NIST. Archived from the original on 2007-02-05. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
  3. "SHS Validation List". NIST. Archived from the original on 2007-02-09. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
  4. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-07-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-07-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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