Private Disk

Infobox_Software
name = Private Disk



caption =
developer = Dekart
latest_release_version = 2.10
latest_release_date = October 25, 2007
operating_system = Windows NT family, Windows 9x
genre = Disk encryption software
language = 17 languages
license = shareware
website = [http://www.dekart.com/products/encryption/private_disk/ www.dekart.com/products/encryption/private_disk]

Overview

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.

One of Private Disk's key selling points is in its ease of use, which is achieved by hiding complexity from the end usercite web | url=http://www.dekart.com/company/our_philosophy/ | publisher=Dekart | title=Our philosophy] (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 AEScite web | url=http://cs-www.ncsl.nist.gov/cryptval/aes/aesval.html | publisher=NIST | title=Advanced Encryption Standard Algorithm Validation List] and SHA-256/384/512cite web | url=http://csrc.ncsl.nist.gov/cryptval/shs/shaval.htm| publisher=NIST | title=SHS Validation List] algorithms, this certification is restricted to a single component of Private Disk; the encryption/hash library used [http://www.dekart.com/fileadmin/company/Dekart%20NIST-CSE%20AES%20Algorithm%20Certificate.PDF] [http://www.dekart.com/fileadmin/company/Secure%20Hash%20Standart.pdf] , 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
* Disk Firewall, an application-level filter, which allows only trusted programs to access the virtual drive
* 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-based operating systems (including Windows Vista)
* 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
* Ability to run directly from a removable drive, requiring no local installation

Existing versions

There are multiple versions of Private Disk, which provide a different feature set:
* [http://www.dekart.com/products/encryption/private_disk_mf/ 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.
* [http://www.dekart.com/products/encryption/private_disk_light/ Private Disk Light] is a free version, it uses AES-128 and comes with a restricted set of features.
* [http://www.dekart.com/products/developers/pd_sdk/ Private Disk SDK] is a software development kit that can be used to build a custom application which provides data encryption facilities.

ee also

* Disk encryption software
* Comparison of disk encryption software

External links

* [http://www.dekart.com/ Dekart company web-page]
* [http://forum.dekart.com/forumdisplay.php?f=4 Private Disk discussion forum]
* [http://www.dekart.com/company/certificates/ Information about certified implementations of the cryptographic algorithms]

References