Cryptomator

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Cryptomator

Cryptomator Logo 2020.svg
Basic data

Maintainer Skymatic GmbH
developer Skymatic GmbH
Publishing year March 9, 2016
Current  version 1.5.6
( June 22, 2020 )
operating system Windows , macOS , Linux , Android , iOS
programming language Java
category Encryption
License GPL -3.0, proprietary (iOS and Android app)
German speaking Yes
cryptomator.org

Cryptomator is a free software for cloud- optimized encrypted storage of files . These can then be synchronized with a cloud provider such as Dropbox without the provider being able to read the data in plain text .

functionality

Cryptomator works with any cloud that can be synchronized with a folder in the file system .

In the desktop version, the files are in a safe on a virtual drive. This allows them to be accessed through the operating system's file system . The encrypted files are saved by Cryptomator in a folder that is synchronized with a cloud. This can be a folder from Dropbox or OneDrive , for example . This allows you to access the files normally on your computer, but the cloud provider has no access to the unencrypted files. In contrast to other encryption programs such as VeraCrypt, Cryptomator does not save the files in a large container file, but in individual files. This makes it easier to synchronize them with a cloud; The entire database of the vault does not have to be uploaded again with every change.

history

Sebastian Stenzel initially developed Cryptomator, originally under the name Open Cloud Encryptor , for his own use, as he was not satisfied with existing encryption solutions .

The first commit in git - repository dates of February 2, 2014. On November 30, 2014 was the first beta version released. The first full version for macOS was published on March 9, 2016, the full versions for Windows and Linux followed a few days later.

Major versions
number Release date Innovations
1.0.0 March 9, 2016 First public release, initially for macOS, later also for Windows and Linux
1.1.0 May 25, 2016 Detection of synchronization conflicts and password strength indicator
1.2.0 19th September 2016 Ability to save the password in the operating system keychain (on Windows and macOS)
1.3.0 July 1, 2017 Modularization of the project, outsourcing of cryptographic aspects in separate libraries , which were also audited in the course of white labels
1.4.0 April 12, 2019 FUSE (Mac / Linux) and Dokany support (Windows) as an alternative to the previously used WebDAV (which is supported on all operating systems)
1.5.0 April 16, 2020 New user interface, Dark Mode

Areas of application

Due to the free license, Cryptomator can be used both privately and commercially in companies.

With Cryptomator, private individuals can securely store personal data such as invoices and photos in a cloud that is unencrypted by default. Since the NSA affair in particular , many people have placed great importance on having their data encrypted.

A special variant, Cryptomator Server, is offered for companies. This contains extended company-relevant functions such as user administration and is provided as a Docker image. It is still in beta .

safety

When an encrypted file is accessed, Cryptomator decrypts it at this moment and makes it available in the virtual drive. No unencrypted versions of the files are stored on the hard drive. In addition to the files themselves, the file names and path names are also encrypted. The AES-256 encryption algorithm is used for encryption . The open source of the software means that back doors can be excluded.

No user account is required with Cryptomator itself. Even if the company no longer existed, all files could still be decrypted.

Business model

The desktop version of Cryptomator including the source code can be freely used by everyone in compliance with the General Public License . A dark design can be activated for a fee. Previously, the development was financed through a "Pay what you want" process, where you could optionally pay any amount for the software before downloading.

The proprietary mobile apps from Cryptomator in the AppStore and on Google Play cost a fixed amount. The Android app can alternatively be purchased directly through the website, so no Google account is needed.

reception

At CEBIT 2016, Cryptomator was awarded the special prize for Usable Security and Privacy. The ease of use across multiple platforms and the high level of security of the open-source software were praised .

Alternatives

The proprietary software Boxcryptor offers extended functions such as a native connection to many cloud services. Commercial use and extended functions are chargeable.

Cloudevo offers a connection between several cloud providers, which enables a large drive consisting of several free accounts with different cloud providers. Cloudevo is proprietary and can only be used to a limited extent in the free version, but offers a web client. In contrast to Cryptomator, a user account is required for Cloudevo.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ github.com .
  2. ↑ cryptomator.org .
  3. ↑ Release 1.5.6 . June 22, 2020 (accessed June 24, 2020).
  4. ↑ Cryptomator Downloads. Retrieved May 25, 2019 .
  5. ↑ github.com .
  6. ^ License from Cryptomator. Retrieved May 25, 2019 .
  7. ↑ a b Cryptomator | heise download. heise online , accessed on May 24, 2019 .
  8. ↑ Florian Blaschke : You don't trust the cloud? Cryptomator encrypts your data at Dropbox, Google and Co. t3n , March 9, 2016, accessed on May 25, 2019 .
  9. ↑ Thomas Zick: Cryptomator - encryption software for the cloud. WinFuture.de, May 10, 2019, accessed on May 25, 2019 .
  10. ↑ Sebastian Stenzel: Open Cloud Encryptor. February 2, 2014, accessed June 3, 2019 .
  11. ↑ Sebastian Stenzel: Initial commit cryptomator / cryptomator @ b78ee82. In: GitHub . February 2, 2014, accessed June 3, 2019 .
  12. ↑ Cryptomator Downloads. Retrieved June 3, 2019 .
  13. ↑ Version history. Retrieved June 7, 2019 .
  14. ↑ cryptomator / cryptomator. Retrieved April 18, 2020 (English).
  15. ↑ Encryption: Cryptomator 1.5.0 released. Retrieved on April 18, 2020 (German).
  16. ↑ What is Free Software? Free Software Foundation Europe , accessed May 26, 2019 .
  17. ↑ Markus Böhm: NSA Scandal: How Snowden's Revelations Changed the Net. Spiegel Online , June 7, 2014, accessed May 25, 2019 .
  18. ↑ Cryptomator Server. Retrieved May 25, 2019 .
  19. ↑ Christine Preusler: Privacy for Everyone: Cryptomator Brings Open-Source, Client-Side Encryption to the Cloud Storage Realm. HostingAdvice, accessed on May 25, 2019 .
  20. ↑ Security architecture . Skymatic GmbH, accessed on July 10, 2020 (English).
  21. ↑ Apple and FBI - data protection versus criminal investigation. WDR , April 1, 2014, accessed May 25, 2019 .
  22. ↑ Matthias Reinwarth: Encryption in Practice: Security for the File Cloud. tecchannel, April 22, 2016, accessed on May 25, 2019 .
  23. ↑ Cryptomator 1.5.0 release. April 20, 2020, accessed on July 10, 2020 .
  24. ↑ Ben Schwan: Cryptomator: competitor for Boxcryptor. heise online , March 14, 2016, accessed on May 25, 2019 .
  25. ↑ Cryptomator in the AppStore. Retrieved May 25, 2019 .
  26. ↑ Cryptomator for Android. Skymatic GmbH, accessed on April 19, 2020 .
  27. ↑ Special price: Cryptomator. CEBIT Innovation Award, 2016, accessed on May 25, 2019 .
  28. ↑ CeBIT Innovation AWARD 2016. BMBF , March 15, 2016, accessed on May 26, 2019 .
  29. ↑ Boxcryptor | Security for your cloud. Retrieved May 25, 2019 .
  30. ↑ Boxcryptor: prices and functions. Retrieved May 25, 2019 .
  31. ↑ Cloudevo 3.4.3 - Download. COMPUTER BILD, accessed on May 24, 2019 .