TrueCrypt, a free encryption tool that has been recommended as the standard for years (including here on VG by this author) has just been shut down, citing security issues.  Currently on their website is a pretty clear warning that “Using TrueCrypt is not secure as it may contain unfixed security issues.”  Gone are the extensive documentation files and support documents.  Instead, the warning goes on to state that the page continues to exist only to help users migrate data currently using TrueCrypt to some other format, such as BitLocker—which is, by the way, a Microsoft product, so we’ll just let you decide whether to trust it.  (Hint: Don’t.)

From Daily Dot:

The open source program was developed by the pseudonymous TrueCrypt team, who have made no public comment since the program’s site changed drastically, leaving many to wonder if the website was hacked or if the warning is legitimate.

For all you conspiracy theorists who love to see Anonymous’ Guy Fawkes mask behind every software failure, you can set aside the idea of the group being hacked; even downloading the new version of the software gives you the warning.

So what happened to the #1 open source encryption tool, used by everyone from Bruce Schneier to Edward Snowden?  No one knows.  As one Twitter user put it, “grab some popcorn, relax, and enjoy the show.”

In the meantime, however, if you’re using Truecrypt…you might want to check out some other options.  Something other than BitLocker, if you actually care about privacy.