FreeOTFE
File:FreeOTFE-logo-32x32.png | |||
Developer(s) | Sarah Dean | ||
---|---|---|---|
Stable release | v4.40
/ November 20, 2008 | ||
Operating system | Microsoft Windows and PocketPC | ||
Available in | English, German | ||
Type | Transparent disk encryption | ||
License | Freeware with public Source Code | ||
Website | www.FreeOTFE.org |
FreeOTFE is an "on-the-fly" disk encryption (OTFE — On The Fly Encryption) program for PCs running MS Windows and Windows Mobile PDAs (FreeOTFE4PDA). It creates "virtual disks" - anything written to which is automatically encrypted before being stored on the computer's hard drive or USB drive.
Overview
FreeOTFE was initially released by Sarah Dean in 2004, and was the first open source disk encryption system that provided a modular architecture allowing 3rd parties to implement additional algorithms if required.
This software is compatible with Linux encrypted volumes (e.g. LUKS, cryptoloop, dm-crypt), allowing data encrypted under Linux to be read (and written) freely. It was the first open source transparent disk encryption system to support Windows Vista and PDAs [1]
Optional two-factor authentication using smart cards and/or hardware security modules (HSMs - also known as security tokens)[2] was introduced in v4.0, using the PKCS#11 (Cryptoki) standard developed by RSA Laboratories.
FreeOTFE also allows any number of "hidden volumes" to be created, giving plausible deniability and deniable encryption, and also has the option of encrypting entire partitions or disks[3]
Algorithms implemented
Due to its architecture, FreeOTFE provides great flexibility to the user with its encryption options.
Ciphers
There are a number of ciphers implemented in FreeOTFE, including:
Cipher modes
Originally FreeOTFE offered encryption using CBC with ESSIV, though from v3.00 introduced LRW and also the more secure XTS mode, which supersedes LRW in the IEEE P1619 standard for disk encryption.
Hashes
As with its cipher options, FreeOTFE offers many different hash algorithms:
Licence
Even though the source code has been made public by the developers, the software does not meet the Open Source Definition, is not used for the software itself, since it is not included in any part of the package.
References
See also
- Disk encryption
- Disk encryption software
- Full disk encryption
- Comparison of disk encryption software