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Secret file encryption is sometimes shown as a complicated process with cascades of random green characters falling down a black screen and a maniacal Goth hacker banging a keyboard. Sometimes it’s both. Actual encryption tools are less spectacular but just as powerful, if not more so, in my experience. Swedish-developed AxCrypt Premium is a simple encryption program I’ve used. Unlike movies, AxCrypt Premium doesn’t strive to wow with sophistication.
Its straightforward file protection is a strength. Top-tier encryption from AxCrypt Premium protects your files. Easy use is what I like about it. AxCrypt Premium is simpler than other encryption programs. Features and options aren’t overdone. Many encryption programs are self-contained and don’t require licenses. You can use the product forever after buying it.
You may have to pay for new versions to upgrade. An alternative model is used by AxCrypt. Its reasonable $5 per month or $45 per year subscription covers server-based feature maintenance. AxCrypt’s subscription approach isn’t unique, but it gives you access to server-based functions that improve the tool’s capabilities.
High-quality file encryption is worth this monthly charge for peace of mind. In addition, NordLocker is one of the few rivals that costs annually. The price has increased since my last review to $7.99 per month or $95.88 per year. Their free plan limits you to 2GB of encrypted storage.
AxCrypt Specifications
AxCrypt is a strong and flexible encryption tool that can be used by anyone, from people to businesses. It’s simple to use and comes with many useful features, such as strong encryption, sharing file keys, and syncing devices. It’s also open source, which means that anyone can look at and check the code for AxCrypt.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Encryption | AxCrypt uses the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) with 128-bit or 256-bit keys in Counter mode with a random Initialization Vector (IV) for data encryption. For integrity verification, AxCrypt uses HMAC-SHA512. |
| File formats | AxCrypt can encrypt and decrypt a wide variety of file formats, including documents, images, videos, and archives. |
| Key derivation | AxCrypt uses PBKDF2 with HMAC-512 to derive encryption keys from user passwords. This helps to protect against brute-force attacks. |
| Account key | Each AxCrypt user has a unique account key, which is used to encrypt and decrypt their private keys. The account key is protected by the user’s password. |
| File key sharing | AxCrypt allows users to share encrypted files with others by sharing the file key. The file key can be shared securely using a variety of methods, such as email, cloud storage, or instant messaging. |
| Device synchronization | AxCrypt users can synchronize their private keys and encrypted files across multiple devices using their AxCrypt account. This allows users to access their encrypted files from anywhere. |
| Passwords | AxCrypt allows users to store and manage their passwords securely using the AxCrypt Password Manager. The passwords are encrypted using AES-256 with the user’s account key. |
| Two-factor authentication | AxCrypt offers two-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security to user accounts. |
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What is AxCrypt?
AxCrypt is an encryption software that uses 256-bit AES encryption and was designed for use by both private persons and commercial enterprises. Users of the Premium and Business subscriptions get access to cloud storage awareness and key sharing, which makes it possible for users to share files with one another. The user is able to comply with the data protection regulation, and essential files can be protected against data breaches at the same time thanks to this feature.
AxCrypt review: User experience
On a MacBook Pro and an iPhone 12, we put AxCrypt Premium through its paces. Downloading the client on the desktop was a simple process. When you start the wizard by entering your email address, you will immediately receive a confirmation code. After that, AxCrypt will urge users to manually create a powerful master password or use its password generator to generate a password for them.
AxCrypt is one of my favorite designs for desktop software thanks to its straightforward interface. All of the essential components are brought to the forefront of the client via the interface. Included in this package are the secure, open secure, and deactivating secure modes, as well as transferring keys and managing passwords.
A straightforward introduction to encryption can be found here. Go to the location on your computer where the file you want to encrypt is stored, and then drag it into the viewer. In a matter of seconds, it is encrypted and then saved to a secure folder on the desktop known as My AxCrypt.
AxCrypt review: Ease of Use
AxCrypt is easy to use, but its unconventional file encryption method can be complicated. However, AxCrypt is easy to use if you learn its idiosyncrasies. AxCrypt registration is confusing. The webpage is simple if you have an AxCrypt ID. You must click “buy now” under the relevant product and sign up for an account separately if you don’t. AxCrypt only requests your email, not your password.
After clicking a verification link, a password creation screen will appear. Though not broken, this method is too charming. Prior to verification, AxCrypt should let you set an email and password. Sign in to your dashboard to activate your free trial or buy a Premium membership after setting up. The whole procedure feels backwards. You validate your email before creating an account and before buying a membership. The process isn’t hard.
AxCrypt review: Security
If you pay for AxCrypt Premium, your files will be encrypted with the AES-256 bit method. AxCrypt only needs one master password, which is different from other advanced encryption services. All of your protected files will be open again as soon as you unlock your account until you sign out. Your master password controls everything, so you need to remember it.
You will lose your files if you forget your master password. You can change your AxCrypt password, but any protected files you had before will be lost. There is one case where the app might be able to help you break your password: if your password is very short. A password manager is an important part of AxCrypt’s security. It’s a safe place to store your passwords that you can access from your computer. It remembers your password or secret, which means you need to make sure that your computer is physically safe.
Pricing
AxCrypt is far more affordable than its rivals and provides a free plan that is comparable to their paid options. You will need to upgrade to the Premium plan in order to get complete protection. Even if there are free solutions that offer superior protection, the price that AxCrypt asks for isn’t prohibitively expensive.
You have your choice between three different plans, only two of which are appropriate for individual users. AxCrypt provides a business plan in addition to a free and a paid individual plan. The business plan is, however, more expensive. You will be charged close to $90 for each member on an annual basis. Thank goodness, AxCrypt provides discounts of up to 25%, which are based on the number of people in your team.
Final Words
Personally, I’ve discovered that AxCrypt is an excellent tool for ensuring the safety of my information, and on top of that, it’s really simple to use. When I started using it for the first time, I was impressed by the variety of materials that were accessible on their website to assist me in getting the hang of the platform.
The fact that the mobile app is largely used for viewing encrypted files rather than for full-fledged file management is a relatively small disadvantage that I discovered. However, in comparison to the several robust capabilities that AxCrypt provides for safeguarding both my local files and web-shared files, this very minor inconvenience is a drop in the bucket. It has been an important resource in ensuring the security and integrity of my sensitive data.
AxCrypt review: The Good and Bad
The unassuming nature of AxCrypt’s interface makes it a breeze to encrypt files. There are several excellent reasons to pay the platform’s $4 monthly fee, even though the majority of its functions are hidden behind a barrier.
The Good
- Easy to use
- Can easily edit encrypted files
- Secure sharing using public key cryptography
- Secure file deletion
The Bad
- Can be risky if you don’t ensure local security of your PC
- Mobile editions can’t encrypt files, only decrypt
Questions and Answers
However, many consumers aren’t interested in all of those bells and whistles; rather, they want straightforward protection for their data. And despite its seeming simplicity, AxCrypt is able to provide PKI encryption, a feature that is offered by very few of its competitors. AxCrypt was selected as the winner of the Editor’s Choice award for encryption software because of these reasons.
AES encryption is used for file and folder encryption when using AxCrypt. AES provides excellent protection. Nevertheless, the confidentiality of the encryption key is essential to the safety of any symmetric key encryption scheme like AES and similar programs. Because AxCrypt stores the encryption key in memory, it is possible to circumvent its protections if you do not properly log off of the machine.