Cloud storage services like Dropbox, Google Drive, and SkyDrive are slick and easy-to-use, but security is always a concern. If someone gained access to your account, they could view all your files. Encrypting your files protects them from prying eyes – if your account gets hacked or one of the service’s nosy employees snoops around, they won’t be able to view your files without your encryption password. Encryption can be hard to use, but BoxCryptor makes it easy.

BoxCryptor is a convenient encryption solution for any cloud storage service, and it runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux. BoxCryptor also offers Android and iOS apps, so you can easily access your encrypted files on-the-go.

Interested? Good news, this week we’re giving away 25 copies of BoxCryptor’s Unlimited Business edition – that’s $2500 worth of software licenses! Better yet, everyone can download BoxCryptor and get most of its features for free -- read on to learn more!

Using BoxCryptor

When you install BoxCryptor, the wizard will walk you through creating a new BoxCryptor folder in your cloud storage folder (for example, your Dropbox folder) and selecting a drive letter for your virtual BoxCryptor drive.

boxcryptor installation wizard

To add a file to your encrypted cloud storage, place the file inside the special BoxCryptor drive. You can also access the encrypted files you’ve stored in the cloud here. Using BoxCryptor is that simple! BoxCryptor takes care of the encryption dirty work so you don’t have to think about it. The encryption and decryption all takes place on your computer – your encryption password is never sent over the network.

boxcryptor-drive[4]

BoxCryptor stores the encrypted versions of the files in the BoxCryptor.bc folder you created. You don’t need to worry about this part – Dropbox, Google Drive, SkyDrive (or any other cloud storage service you use) will sync the encrypted versions of the files. Only people with your password can access the files.

boxcryptor-folder

You’ll probably want to create a backup of your BoxCryptor configuration file, though – if you lose your configuration file or your password, you’ll lose access to all your encrypted files.

boxcryptor-backup-configuration

BoxCryptor Mobile Apps

Cloud storage allows you to access your files from anywhere with mobile apps. However, if you encrypt files, you’ll need to use BoxCryptor to decrypt and view them. This is where BoxCryptor’s mobile app for Android and iOS [No Longer Available] comes in. It supports Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft SkyDrive -- just fire up the mobile app and select the service you use. You can even have the mobile app connect to a WebDAV share or load encrypted files off an SD card.

boxcryptor-for-android[4]

After authenticating, you can navigate to your BoxCryptor folder and decrypt it with your password. You’ll be able to view the decrypted versions of your encrypted files on the go. You can upload files to your encrypted storage from here, too. The encryption and decryption take place directly on your device – your password is never sent over the network.

You can also set a PIN to prevent people from accessing the app and your files if your phone is stolen.

boxcryptor-files-on-android

BoxCryptor Free vs. BoxCryptor Unlimited

Good news: All the features mentioned above are completely free to everyone. You can encrypt an unlimited number of files (or as much as your cloud storage service can hold) and access them from all your devices.

The Unlimited version of BoxCryptor we’re giving away also offers some additional features:

  • Multiple Drives: Do you use multiple cloud storage services? You can create several BoxCryptor drives, each with its own drive letter and separate folder. You can also create multiple BoxCryptor folders on the same cloud storage service – maybe you want to share one with someone and use one privately. It’s up to you!
boxcryptor-multiple-drives
  • File-Name Encryption: The free version of BoxCryptor doesn’t encrypt file names, while the Unlimited one does. If you store a file named My Secrets.doc in your encrypted folder, people will be able to see that it’s named My Secrets.doc – although they won’t be able to access its contents. With the Unlimited version of BoxCryptor, people will see random gibberish instead of a legible name. You’ll need an Unlimited version of BoxCryptor to create drives with encrypted filenames.
boxcryptor-encrypted-filenames[4]
  • Dedicated Support: Your BoxCryptor Unlimited license buys you dedicated support from BoxCryptor, while users of the free version will have to rely on community support if they run into any problems.
  • Commercial Use: The 25 licenses of BoxCryptor Unlimited Business we’re giving away allow you to use BoxCryptor for business purposes. Aside from that, BoxCryptor Unlimited Business ($99 per license) is identical to BoxCryptor Unlimited Personal ($40 per license).

If you’re interested in the Unlimited Business version, be sure to enter our giveaway this week – we’re giving away 25 BoxCryptor Unlimited Business licenses worth a total of $2500!

How do I win a copy of Boxcryptor Unlimited Business?

Step 1: Fill in the giveaway form

Please fill in the form with your real name and email address so that we can get in touch if you are chosen as a winner.

The giveaway code required to activate the form is available from our Facebook page and Twitter stream.

The giveaway is over. Here are the winners:
  • Art Clarke
  • Charismagic
  • Dina Caroleo
  • Doug Allen, III
  • Edward Brownstein
  • Havilson P. Mascarenhas
  • James Hannam
  • James Watson
  • jax
  • John Swift
  • Jose Antonio Lambiris
  • Justin Yang
  • Kevin Stowe
  • Marek
  • Mike Dennis
  • MrcFlp
  • Muz
  • Nicole Singleton
  • Preston Steffey
  • Rudolph Wallace
  • shahid
  • Thom Davies
  • Vikram
  • William Saindon Henley
  • yidawu
Congratulations! If you were selected as a winner, you would have received your license via email from jackson@makeuseof.com. If you require any assistance, please get in touch with jackson@makeuseof.com before Aug 20. Enquires beyond this date will not be entertained.

Step 2: Share!

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By participating in this giveaway, you agree to the giveaway rules.

This giveaway begins now and ends Friday, August 10th. The winners will be selected at random and informed via email.

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