Cross-platform encryption for Mac

chris.p · 07. May 2009, 01:28 PM

Looking for a Mac file encryption app that can also run on a PC, to send encrypted files Mac >> PC >> Mac.

Search Softpedia for example, a good list of Mac encryption apps there - but do any of them run cross-platform?

Or, is there a Thunderbird plugin that works on Tbird 2.0.0.21 that encrypts emails / files? (PGP is no good, can't be installed by the average user.)

Getting tired of having them use a PC just to talk with me

Dscrypt would be perfect but I don't think it runs on a Mac.

littlefuzzy · 10. Jun 2009, 09:17 PM

I Don't have a mac but the truecrypt program is cross platform. They have installers for windows, mac and Linux http://www.truecrypt.org/.

chris.p · 11. Jun 2009, 02:43 AM

OK. But maybe that is overkill, don't know if you ever used it, it's the sort of thing you'd use if you want ultimate paranoia protection. Good though. OK for us but probably not something you'd have co-workers or your mum use, like sandboxing or a good firewall - whole-disk and volume encryption is going to be too hard for non-techies.

The big danger is they can't be bothered and skip it when they're in a hurry one day. Whatever you give them to use has to be a 1-click 3-second tool or it won't get used. Anyway that's the best kind for me as well

What I need is something for average office Mac users who hate anything techie. A zip / encryption utility is perfect - I need to send passwords and also I want them to encrypt the private data on their computers. It's a shock to them that Macs aren't a magic secure device or something, as the ad spin and fanboys etc have totally warped all that so people think they are safe. One reason why my colleagues buy them. Ridiculous of course - someone just recently demonstrated hacking a Mac in 11 seconds and stealing a file off it.

Anyway I found 3 Mac ports of 7zip, which would be perfect -

p7zip for Mac OS X
EZ 7z for Mac OS X
7zX for Mac OS X

...and I've told them to get EZ-7zip from:
macupdate.com/info.php/id/19139

...as that looked about the easiest to use. Needs to encrypt / decrypt password-protected 7zips fast and easy.

We'll see how that goes...

07. May 2009, 01:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
chris.p Foundation Editor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 1,600	Cross-platform encryption for Mac Looking for a Mac file encryption app that can also run on a PC, to send encrypted files Mac >> PC >> Mac. Search Softpedia for example, a good list of Mac encryption apps there - but do any of them run cross-platform? Or, is there a Thunderbird plugin that works on Tbird 2.0.0.21 that encrypts emails / files? (PGP is no good, can't be installed by the average user.) Getting tired of having them use a PC just to talk with me Dscrypt would be perfect but I don't think it runs on a Mac. __________________ . . . . . . . Web Business Management Last edited by chris.p; 12. May 2009 at 01:27 AM.

11. Jun 2009, 02:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
chris.p Foundation Editor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 1,600	OK. But maybe that is overkill, don't know if you ever used it, it's the sort of thing you'd use if you want ultimate paranoia protection. Good though. OK for us but probably not something you'd have co-workers or your mum use, like sandboxing or a good firewall - whole-disk and volume encryption is going to be too hard for non-techies. The big danger is they can't be bothered and skip it when they're in a hurry one day. Whatever you give them to use has to be a 1-click 3-second tool or it won't get used. Anyway that's the best kind for me as well What I need is something for average office Mac users who hate anything techie. A zip / encryption utility is perfect - I need to send passwords and also I want them to encrypt the private data on their computers. It's a shock to them that Macs aren't a magic secure device or something, as the ad spin and fanboys etc have totally warped all that so people think they are safe. One reason why my colleagues buy them. Ridiculous of course - someone just recently demonstrated hacking a Mac in 11 seconds and stealing a file off it. Anyway I found 3 Mac ports of 7zip, which would be perfect - p7zip for Mac OS X EZ 7z for Mac OS X 7zX for Mac OS X ...and I've told them to get EZ-7zip from: macupdate.com/info.php/id/19139 ...as that looked about the easiest to use. Needs to encrypt / decrypt password-protected 7zips fast and easy. We'll see how that goes... __________________ . . . . . . . Web Business Management

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10. Jun 2009, 09:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
littlefuzzy Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: WI,US Posts: 8	I Don't have a mac but the truecrypt program is cross platform. They have installers for windows, mac and Linux http://www.truecrypt.org/.