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VeraCrypt

Hacker Approved

Tied for most recommended of 7 disk encryptions

Free, open-source encryption for files, containers and drives, with hidden volumes and independent audits. Critics note hidden volumes can be detected and it is slow on SSDs.

Free, open-source encryption for files, containers and drives, with hidden volumes and independent audits. Critics note hidden volumes can be detected and it is slow on SSDs.

63 people gave an opinion

recommend it
45
criticize it
18
approval share
71%
Each figure is one person. RecommendsCriticizes

Recommended in 10 of 13 months

  1. November 2025: recommended
  2. December 2025: recommended
  3. January 2026: recommended
  4. February 2026: recommended
  5. March 2026: recommended
  6. April 2026: recommended
  7. May 2026: recommended
  8. June 2026: not recommended
  9. July 2026: recommended
  10. August 2026: not recommended
  11. September 2026: not recommended
  12. October 2026: recommended
  13. November 2026: recommended (month in progress)

Why it carries the badge

  • 45 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, met.
  • 2.5 recommenders for every criticNeeds 2 to 1 or better, met.
  • Recommended in 10 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, met.

The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works

What people say about it

The reasons people give, with the number of comments that give each one. Open a reason to read what they said.

Why people recommend it

Each mark is one comment

  • Encrypted containers for files

    “A VeraCrypt container or encrypted overlay filesystem are a significant performance and UX upgrade”

    Comment from 24 Feb 2026 in “Why the KeePass format should be based on SQLite”

    “individuals who care about security and privacy put their shit on a Veracrypt drive somewhere else”

    Comment from 14 May 2026 in “Microsoft BitLocker – YellowKey zero-day exploit”

    “You can create secure inaccessible directories for files via Cryptomator or Veracrypt or similar.”

    Comment from 5 Jul 2026 in “Rayfish, Peer-to-peer mesh VPN with no server to trust”
  • Hidden volumes for plausible deniability

    “using a secondary secure container if you do intend to store that level of sensitive data (eg: VeraCrypt volume for plausible deniability)”

    Comment from 30 Nov 2025 in “Bazzite: Operating System for Linux gaming”

    “for plausible deniability for forced password disclosure, you can use VeraCrypt hidden partitions”

    Comment from 15 Apr 2026 in “Google Broke Its Promise to Me. Now ICE Has My Data”

    “Probably better just to use a veracrypt hidden volume, and preferably not a SSD.”

    Comment from 21 Jul 2026 in “My USB Drive Has a Hidden Encrypted Vault”
  • Independently audited and trusted

    “Veracrypt was independently audited, even by German BSA and no serious problems were found.”

    Comment from 17 May 2026 in “Security researcher says Microsoft built a Bitlocker backdoor, releases exploit”

    “It took a long time and two independent audits to establish trust in it.”

    Comment from 8 Apr 2026 in “Veracrypt Project Update”

    “Seeing this kind of friction makes me more confident in VeraCrypt.”

    Comment from 8 Apr 2026 in “Veracrypt Project Update”
  • Open-source full-disk encryption

    “It seems like only open source solutions actually provide encryption, like LUKS and Veracrypt.”

    Comment from 1 Nov 2026 in “Lenovo's 'encrypted' fingerprint USB is just an unencrypted SD card in a case”

    “well-reviewed full-disk encryption alternatives such as VeraCrypt”

    Comment from 17 May 2026 in “Security researcher says Microsoft built a Bitlocker backdoor, releases exploit”

    “I would run VeraCrypt on your computer. The one exception.”

    Comment from 17 May 2026 in “Security researcher says Microsoft built a Bitlocker backdoor, releases exploit”

What people warn about

Each mark is one comment

  • Hidden volumes can be detected

    “It just makes it really obvious which sectors are unused within your encrypted partition”

    Comment from 24 Jan 2026 in “Microsoft gave FBI set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops”

    “It relies upon your adversary not knowing about veracrypt's hidden volume.”

    Comment from 27 Jul 2026 in “US citizen charged after GrapheneOS phone wipes during airport search”

    “By using Veracrypt you're already proving there could be a hidden volume”

    Comment from 27 Jul 2026 in “US citizen charged after GrapheneOS phone wipes during airport search”
  • Derived from compromised TrueCrypt

    “Don't be so sure. Veracrypt is a fork of Truecrypt, which was famously shuttered after security rumours started spreading”

    Comment from 17 May 2026 in “Security researcher says Microsoft built a Bitlocker backdoor, releases exploit”

    “Ever since the TrueCrypt fiasco years ago, I have no trust in that brand.”

    Comment from 17 May 2026 in “Security researcher says Microsoft built a Bitlocker backdoor, releases exploit”

    “If TrueCrypt was compromised then it stands that VeraCrypt is as well.”

    Comment from 17 May 2026 in “Security researcher says Microsoft built a Bitlocker backdoor, releases exploit”
  • Slow on SSDs and NVMe

    “it appears to perform poorly on modern NVME devices due to inherent limitations in its TrueCrypt based architecture”

    Comment from 28 Jan 2026 in “Encrypt your PC's disk without giving the keys to Microsoft”

    “VeraCrypt is not optimized for SSDs and has a massive performance impact”

    Comment from 23 Jan 2026 in “Microsoft gave FBI set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops”
  • Developer lost driver licence

    “veracrypt lost their drivers license so afaik you should avoid it since it cannot update its drivers any longer”

    Comment from 2 Jul 2026 in “Since Linux 6.9, LUKS suspend stopped wiping disk-encryption keys from memory”

    “got their driver licence pulled afaik they cant update their program anymore”

    Comment from 17 May 2026 in “Security researcher says Microsoft built a Bitlocker backdoor, releases exploit”

Other disk encryptions people recommend

The four most recommended other disk encryptions, with the same counts for each, so you can compare like for like. The tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs.

VeraCrypt compared with 4 alternatives
ProductRecommendCriticizeApprovalMonthsOwnedBadge
VeraCryptThis page451871%10—Approved
Microsoft BitLocker4511528%810.7 yrs3 owners—
LUKS32684%13—Approved
TrueCrypt9756%6——
FileVault8947%3——
See all 7 disk encryptions, ranked

What people said

40 of the 76 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.

“It seems like only open source solutions actually provide encryption, like LUKS and Veracrypt.”

RecommendsComment from 1 Nov 2026 in “Lenovo's 'encrypted' fingerprint USB is just an unencrypted SD card in a case”

“Just use veracrypt or ecrypt on any memory card”

RecommendsComment from 1 Nov 2026 in “Lenovo's 'encrypted' fingerprint USB is just an unencrypted SD card in a case”

“something similar to trucrypt / veracrypt, in which multiple passcodes can unlock different sections”

RecommendsComment from 20 Oct 2026 in “DHS Claimed It Searched GrapheneOS Phone Wiper for Child Abuse Material. It Lied”

“By using Veracrypt you're already proving there could be a hidden volume”

CriticizesComment from 27 Jul 2026 in “US citizen charged after GrapheneOS phone wipes during airport search”

“It relies upon your adversary not knowing about veracrypt's hidden volume.”

CriticizesComment from 27 Jul 2026 in “US citizen charged after GrapheneOS phone wipes during airport search”

“VeraCrypt has a cool function which is a reserved space for a decoy OS.”

RecommendsComment from 26 Jul 2026 in “US citizen charged after GrapheneOS phone wipes during airport search”

“Hidden volumes. This is an old and well-solved problem set.”

RecommendsComment from 21 Jul 2026 in “My USB Drive Has a Hidden Encrypted Vault”

“A Veracrypt hidden volume is useful in the former situation, but not the latter.”

MixedComment from 21 Jul 2026 in “My USB Drive Has a Hidden Encrypted Vault”

“Probably better just to use a veracrypt hidden volume, and preferably not a SSD.”

RecommendsComment from 21 Jul 2026 in “My USB Drive Has a Hidden Encrypted Vault”

“You can create secure inaccessible directories for files via Cryptomator or Veracrypt or similar.”

RecommendsComment from 5 Jul 2026 in “Rayfish, Peer-to-peer mesh VPN with no server to trust”

“it was resolved within a few days. The incident being resolved just didn't make headlines.”

RecommendsComment from 2 Jul 2026 in “Since Linux 6.9, LUKS suspend stopped wiping disk-encryption keys from memory”

“veracrypt lost their drivers license so afaik you should avoid it since it cannot update its drivers any longer”

CriticizesComment from 2 Jul 2026 in “Since Linux 6.9, LUKS suspend stopped wiping disk-encryption keys from memory”

“Don't be so sure. Veracrypt is a fork of Truecrypt, which was famously shuttered after security rumours started spreading”

CriticizesComment from 17 May 2026 in “Security researcher says Microsoft built a Bitlocker backdoor, releases exploit”

“Veracrypt was independently audited, even by German BSA and no serious problems were found.”

RecommendsComment from 17 May 2026 in “Security researcher says Microsoft built a Bitlocker backdoor, releases exploit”

“I would run VeraCrypt on your computer. The one exception.”

RecommendsComment from 17 May 2026 in “Security researcher says Microsoft built a Bitlocker backdoor, releases exploit”

“If TrueCrypt was compromised then it stands that VeraCrypt is as well.”

CriticizesComment from 17 May 2026 in “Security researcher says Microsoft built a Bitlocker backdoor, releases exploit”

“got their driver licence pulled afaik they cant update their program anymore”

CriticizesComment from 17 May 2026 in “Security researcher says Microsoft built a Bitlocker backdoor, releases exploit”

“Ever since the TrueCrypt fiasco years ago, I have no trust in that brand.”

CriticizesComment from 17 May 2026 in “Security researcher says Microsoft built a Bitlocker backdoor, releases exploit”

“well-reviewed full-disk encryption alternatives such as VeraCrypt”

RecommendsComment from 17 May 2026 in “Security researcher says Microsoft built a Bitlocker backdoor, releases exploit”

“that actually increases my confidence that VeraCrypt is secure”

RecommendsComment from 14 May 2026 in “Microsoft BitLocker – YellowKey zero-day exploit”

“individuals who care about security and privacy put their shit on a Veracrypt drive somewhere else”

RecommendsComment from 14 May 2026 in “Microsoft BitLocker – YellowKey zero-day exploit”

“for plausible deniability for forced password disclosure, you can use VeraCrypt hidden partitions”

RecommendsComment from 15 Apr 2026 in “Google Broke Its Promise to Me. Now ICE Has My Data”

“But I still like it for containers”

RecommendsComment from 9 Apr 2026 in “Microsoft Abruptly Terminates VeraCrypt Account, Halting Windows Updates”

“Both of you are developing some of the most important software that exists today.”

RecommendsComment from 8 Apr 2026 in “Veracrypt Project Update”

“Atleast now I'm a bit more certain that VC is indeed safe.”

RecommendsComment from 8 Apr 2026 in “Veracrypt Project Update”

“Seeing this kind of friction makes me more confident in VeraCrypt.”

RecommendsComment from 8 Apr 2026 in “Veracrypt Project Update”

“It took a long time and two independent audits to establish trust in it.”

RecommendsComment from 8 Apr 2026 in “Veracrypt Project Update”

“Veracrypt has the ability to create hidden partitions, regardless of OS.”

RecommendsComment from 25 Mar 2026 in “How to Keep ICE Agents Out of Your Devices at Airports”

“If privacy is your primary problem with cloud storage, I would suggest veracrypt containers.”

RecommendsComment from 9 Mar 2026 in “Flash media longevity testing – 6 years later”

“you might as well use a purpose built encryption container tool”

RecommendsComment from 26 Feb 2026 in “Why the KeePass format should be based on SQLite”

“A VeraCrypt container or encrypted overlay filesystem are a significant performance and UX upgrade”

RecommendsComment from 24 Feb 2026 in “Why the KeePass format should be based on SQLite”

“For simplicity, I'd use gocryptfs, Veracrypt, or other general file-based encryption”

RecommendsComment from 19 Feb 2026 in “Show HN: An encrypted, local, cross-platform journaling app”

“it appears to perform poorly on modern NVME devices due to inherent limitations in its TrueCrypt based architecture”

CriticizesComment from 28 Jan 2026 in “Encrypt your PC's disk without giving the keys to Microsoft”

“It just makes it really obvious which sectors are unused within your encrypted partition”

MixedComment from 24 Jan 2026 in “Microsoft gave FBI set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops”

“they knew truecrypt/veracrypt to be irrepairably compromised”

CriticizesComment from 24 Jan 2026 in “Microsoft gave FBI set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops”

“VeraCrypt is not optimized for SSDs and has a massive performance impact”

CriticizesComment from 23 Jan 2026 in “Microsoft gave FBI set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops”

“This is by far one of the best advertisements for LUKS/VeraCrypt I've ever seen.”

RecommendsComment from 23 Jan 2026 in “Microsoft gave FBI set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops”

“I'd recommend downloading software like Signal, Session, VeraCrypt, etc.”

RecommendsComment from 22 Dec 2025 in “The Going Dark initiative or ProtectEU is a Chat Control 3.0 attempt”

“using a secondary secure container if you do intend to store that level of sensitive data (eg: VeraCrypt volume for plausible deniability)”

RecommendsComment from 30 Nov 2025 in “Bazzite: Operating System for Linux gaming”

“you'll need to re-upload the entire encrypted file--usually quite large--every time you change anything at all”

MixedComment from 10 Nov 2025 in “Time to start de-Appling”

Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.