Please see the original FAQ in our Knowledge Base:
https://boxcryptor.desk.com/customer/portal/articles/1085073-boxcryptor-2-0-technical-preview-faq
You can download the Boxcryptor 2.0 Technical Preview from our Labs page:
https://www.boxcryptor.com/labs
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Can I continue to use BoxCryptor 1.x?
Yes. You can still use BoxCryptor 1.x and we will also support this version for first 12 months after the release of our new Boxcryptor generation. Afterwards you will still be able to use these version, but we will not offer support for the old versions any more.
Can I use Boxcryptor 1.x and 2.0 at the same time?
Yes, you can have both, Boxcryptor 1.x and 2.0, installed and also use both versions at the same time. This way you can use the best of both worlds if you're an existing paying customer and don't want to switch to a subscription model: Use 1.x for filename encryption and unlimited drives and 2.0 when you need any of the new sharing features.
Can I use the Boxcryptor Technical Preview for production use?
No. Although our Technical Preview is tested by our team before, this is not a stable release yet. Unexpected problems may occur and files encrypted with the technical preview might not be compatible with files the final new version.
Do I have to upgrade to Boxcryptor 2.0?
No, of course not. If you are a happy user of Boxcryptor 1.x and do not want to upgrade to Boxcryptor 2.0, you do not have to. You can still continue to use Boxcryptor 1.x and we will continue to offer support for this major version in the future.
Why are you switching to an annual subscription?
We have released the first version of Boxcryptor almost 2 years ago and never required our users to purchase an upgrade. All upgrades have always been for free. We realized in the past two years, that developing Boxcryptor requires an on-going effort due to the dynamic ecosystem surrunding Boxcryptor. New operating systems are appearing (Windows Phone, Android 4, Blackberry 10, etc.) and new cloud storage providers are born (Google Drive, SkyDrive, etc.) almost weekly. We had basically two choices: 1) We begin to charge an upgrade fee for new versions or 2) change to an annual subscription. We decided to go the annual subscription route because we think it better represents the service we're offering.
What happens if I quit my subscription?
If you quit your subscription, your account will be downgraded to a free account. This has no implications to your existing files which you will still be able to decrypt and access. The reduced features are only applied to new files and folders which you create after your subscription has ended. E.g. you will continue to be part of your groups but won't be able to create or join new groups.
Will I still be able to use Boxcryptor for free?
Yes! We will still offer a basic version of Boxcryptor Free which can be used without any costs. It will offer similar features for free as the current Boxcryptor 1.x versions and should be sufficient for most users.
Will there also be a Family license?
We have not made a final decision on this yet but we are working to find a way for offering a special license for families which is similar to the current Family license of Boxcryptor 1.x.
I already purchased BoxCryptor. Do I have to pay again for the new Boxcryptor generation?
Existing customers who regularly purchased a license on or after January 21, 2013 can use the new version for free for the first 12 months after the offical release. Customers who purchased before Januar 21, 2013, will be able to use the new version at a reduced price for the first 12 months after release.
Why do I have to create an offline account when I want to use Boxcryptor offline?
Boxcryptor behaves completely same when used with an online account or an offline account. The only difference is, that the data which would normally be sent to the Boxcryptor Key Server is stored in a local key file when using an offline account. The use of a "real" account even when using Boxcryptor offline has the following reasons:
Simplified development because we don't have to distinguish between offline or online use in most parts of the application.
Easy transition from offline account to online account because all information is already available (email, firstname, etc.) in the application.
Users can create a complete backup of their online account (including their keys) by exporting it to a key file. To use the backup you simply use Boxcryptor with an offline account using the exported key file.
Will there be a Linux version for the new Boxcryptor generation?
BoxCryptor 1.x was never available for Linux, but by using EncFS Linux users were able to use BoxCryptor Folders. Although we're great fans of Linux ourselves, we do not have any plans to support Linux with the new Boxcryptor generation at the moment. We would love to develop also the new Boxcryptor for Linux, but the development costs a lot of money and we don't think that we could get enough paying Linux users to cover the expenses due to the low number of Linux users. We're very sorry for this decision, but all Linux users can continue to use EncFS in combination with BoxCryptor 1.x.
Why do I need groups?
Groups allow you to easily share access permissions with other users. Instead of having to manually select all users when sharing a file, you can simply select the group. Additionally you can manage the members of a group which allows you to modify the sharing users in a central place without having to modify the sharing options of individual files. E.g. if you add a user to a group, he has immediately access to all files and folders of this group - removing a user from a group cancels his access.
Are there any free restrictions in the Technical Preview?
No. During the pre-release phase (e.g. Technical Preview or Beta) every user can use all features of Boxcryptor without any restriction (e.g. you can use filename encryption, groups, etc.). When we release the final version of the new Boxcryptor generation, there will be restrictions in the free version of Boxcryptor.
Why do I need an account now?
For the new seemless access sharing of a file, we need to make the public key available for the person you share the file with. This happens through our key server which distributes them to the clients as required for sharing. To manage these keys all users need an account. Since all private keys leaving your computer to our servers are encrypted with your password, we are not able to access your private keys. Additionally, in the past, some users had problems to take care of their configuration file and by not having to worry about their key availability, we want to make our software even easier for non-technical users.
Do you now know my keys or are you still zero knowledge?
We never have access to your private keys or keys used to encrypt files. We still follow the zero knowledge principle. All data leaving your computer is encrypted with your password - which only you know and which never leaves your computer. This also means, that we're still not able to recover your password!
I have shared a file via BoxCryptor but it doesn't show up in the drive of my partner?
When you share a file via BoxCryptor we take care that that the person you shared the file with can open it, but we don't share the file itself. Think of it as a "read permission". Sharing encrypted files with others requires two steps: 1) You need to share the file with Boxcryptor which injects the key of the other user into the file. 2) You need to physically share the encrypted file with the other person. If you're using a cloud storage provider, this will happen automatically if the folder is shared. (e.g. a shared folder in Dropbox)
Can I open files from the 1.x Version
Unfortunately, no. Due to the many changes and new features in Boxcryptor 2.0, it is not possible to open files created with Boxcryptor 1.x with Boxcryptor 2.0 and files created with Boxcryptor 2.0 cannot be opened in Boxcryptor 1.x. The final release will contain convert functionality to easily upgrade Boxcryptor 1.x files to Boxcryptor 2.0.
Can I install and run Boxcryptor 1.x and Boxcryptor 2.0 Technical Preview at the same time?
Yes, you can have both major versions of Boxcryptor installed on your device and also use it at the same time. So you can try out the Boxcryptor 2.0 Technical Preview and still use your existing Boxcryptor 1.x installation.
Do I need to store my Keyfile in a secure place
You should back it up, the same way it applies to the configuration file of your current BoxCryptor folder. But since all the information inside this file is encrypted by your password, there is no need to lock it up in a private place.
Can I create multiple drives?
No this is not possible but also not needed anymore. We are no longer tied to a specific folder an you can access all your clouds directly from the BoxCryptor drive.
Can I secure local files or my USB Stick?
This is possible. To do this, open the Settings via a right click on the new logo. Then head to "Locations", here you'll be able to add more Locations to your BoxCryptor Drive. This can be folders synced to the cloud or any other folder.
Can I share folders with other people?
Yes you can share permissions for folders the same way you can share them for a file.
How does the sharing work?
Every file has it's own unique AES key. This key is encrypted by your personal public key. When you share a file, our app fetches the public key of your partner and encrypts the AES key of the file with this key. This means you won't have to give away any sensitive information, and the sharing is only valid for this single file.
Is there also a technical preview for OSX & iOS?
Not yet. Currently we only have the technical preview available for Windows and Android. We will provide technical preview version for Mac OS X and iOS in the upcoming weeks.
How can I share files with multiple other users?
To share files with several other users, the new Boxcryptor generation offers you the option to create groups. You can access the group function in the settings menu.
Here you can add and delete users by entering their email address and then simply share access to your files by sharing it with a specific group. Please note, that you can only add users to a group if they have already created an online Boxcryptor account.
Why do you have a new logo?
During the last year, we have created a completely new corporate identity and a new design for our company. While we still love our old logo (the box with the lock), we also thought about a new design for our new Boxcryptor generation. Now it is time to release the new design and we hope you like it as much as we do.
How can I log out of BoxCryptor?
You can log out by opening the Boxcryptor settings (right-click on the Boxcryptor symbol) and opening the "Account" tab. Here you have the option to "Log out from this computer".
What happens if I forget my password?
As we are still a zero knowledge provider, we cannot help you if you forgot your password. You will have to create a new account and access to all existing encrypted files will be lost. However, the new Boxcryptor key architecture allows us to offer a password reset feature for companies which sign up for a Company Account.
