NordLocker

In May 2019, NordVPN announced the upcoming launch of NordLocker, "an app with a zero-knowledge encryption process".{{Cite web|last=Kan|first=Michael|url=https://sea.pcmag.com/nordvpn/32880/nordvpn-expands-into-file-encryption-with-nordlocker|title=NordVPN Expands Into File Encryption With NordLocker |website=PCMag|date=May 31, 2019 |access-date=December 16, 2020}} Although the initial estimated time of arrival was summer 2019, the actual launch took place in November. The app was launched as a local file encryption tool with secure sharing. Users were able to encrypt up to 5 GB of data for free or pay for unlimited encryption.{{Cite web|url=https://irishtechnews.ie/nordlocker-creators-of-nordvpn-launch-new-product/|title=NordLocker - Creators of NordVPN Announce Launch of New Cybersecurity Product|website=Irish Tech News|date=November 14, 2019|access-date=December 16, 2020}}

In March 2020, NordLocker announced newly implemented cloud sharing integrations with Dropbox and Google Drive.{{Cite web|last=Armstrong|first=Elisa|url=https://nordlocker.com/blog/new-in-nordlocker/|title=New in NordLocker: recent folders, cloud and more |website=NordLocker.com|date=March 19, 2020 |access-date=December 16, 2020}}

In August 2020, NordLocker launched a cloud storage add-on, a feature allowing users to back up their data and synchronize it across multiple devices.{{Cite web|last=Guta|first=Michael|url=https://smallbiztrends.com/2020/08/cloud-storage-2.html|title=NordLocker Introduces Encrypted Cloud Storage Add-on |website=Small Business Trends|date=August 25, 2020 |access-date=December 16, 2020}}

NordLocker is an encryption software with cloud integration. The software uses so called "lockers" - encrypted folders to encrypt and store user files. Users can create an unlimited number of lockers, drop files in to encrypt them, and transfer lockers separately.{{Cite web|last=Rubenking|first=Neil J.|url=https://uk.pcmag.com/encryption/123089/nordlocker|title=NordLocker |website=PCMag UK|date=May 31, 2019 |access-date=December 16, 2020}}

The app uses client-side encryption to secure files on the user's device first.{{Cite web|last=Cupler|first=Justin|url=https://www.itpro.co.uk/security/encryption/356858/nordlocker-encryption-heads-to-the-cloud|title=NordLocker encryption heads to the cloud|website=ITPro.|date=August 21, 2020 |access-date=December 16, 2020}} It's a zero-knowledge encryption system, where the developers have no data about users' files.{{Cite web|last=Guta|first=Michael|url=https://smallbiztrends.com/2020/08/cloud-storage-2.html|title=NordLocker Introduces Encrypted Cloud Storage Add-on |website=Small Business Trends|date=August 25, 2020 |access-date=December 17, 2020}} After the encryption process, the user can decide whether to store data locally or sync it via NordLocker’s cloud.{{Cite web|url=https://cerebral-overload.com/2020/08/nordvpns-file-encryption-tool-launches-a-cloud-storage-add-on/|title=NordVPN's File Encryption Tool Launches a Cloud Storage Add-on|website=cerebral-overload.com|date=August 20, 2020 |access-date=December 16, 2020}} NordLocker syncs files via a private cloud, so they can be accessed from any computer with the NordLocker app installed.

The program uses AES-256 and 4096-bit RSA encryption algorithms{{Cite web|last=Kan|first=Michael|url=https://sea.pcmag.com/nordvpn/32880/nordvpn-expands-into-file-encryption-with-nordlocker|title=NordVPN Expands Into File Encryption With NordLocker |website=PCMag|date=May 31, 2019 |access-date=December 16, 2020}} as well as Argon2 and ECC (with XChaCha20, EdDSA, and Poly1305).{{Cite web|last=Rubenking|first=Neil J.|url=https://uk.pcmag.com/encryption/123089/nordlocker|title=NordLocker |website=PCMag UK|date=May 31, 2019 |access-date=June 5, 2020}} NordLocker uses Libsodium to generate a random 256-bit key and encrypt lockers. To encrypt that key, the app then uses XChaCha20-Poly1305 and the user’s master password.{{Cite web|last=Mills|first=Matt|url=https://itigic.com/nordlocker-review-encrypt-share-your-data/|title=NordLocker |website=itigic.com|date=December 25, 2019 |access-date=December 16, 2020}}

The local encryption is free as of December 2020 — the service monetizes cloud storage space beyond the 3 GB provided with the free plan.

In April 2020, NordLocker launched the "NordLocker Bounty campaign", a hacking competition with the top prize of $10,000.{{Cite web|url=https://irishtechnews.ie/nordlocker-invites-ethical-hackers-to-crack-encrypted-locker-worth-10000/|title=NordLocker Invites Ethical Hackers to Crack Encrypted Locker Worth $10,000|website=Irish Tech News|date=April 2, 2020 |access-date=December 17, 2020}} To win, a person had to download an encrypted "locker" from the company's site, hack into it, and find the hidden message. Based on the NordLocker’s campaign page, there were over 600 attempts to break the locker but no one has claimed the bounty as of December 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://nordlocker.com/locker-bounty/|title=$10,000 NordLocker Bounty|website=NordLocker|access-date=December 17, 2020}}

A June 2020 PCMagazine review noted that NordLocker was easy to use but lacked features like secure file deletion and two-factor authentication.{{Cite web|last=Rubenking|first=Neil J.|url=https://uk.pcmag.com/encryption/123089/nordlocker|title=NordLocker |website=PCMag UK|date=May 31, 2019 |access-date=December 16, 2020}} In August 2020, ITPro called NordLocker’s cloud add-on a “critical feature for modern business, especially with the coronavirus outbreak forcing many companies’ workforces to remain remote.”{{Cite web|last=Mills|first=Matt|url=https://itigic.com/nordlocker-review-encrypt-share-your-data/|title=NordLocker |website=itigic.com|date=December 25, 2019 |access-date=December 16, 2020}} Restore Privacy praised NordLocker for strong end-to-end encryption and the "new, lower price" but mentioned the fact that NordLocker is not open-source.{{Cite web|last=Long|first=Heinrich|url=https://restoreprivacy.com/cloud-storage/reviews/nordlocker/|title=NordLocker Review |website=Restore Privacy|date=September 16, 2020|access-date=December 17, 2020}}

Boxcryptor, another encryption service, has compared NordLocker’s security to their own but noted that NordLocker does not have a mobile application.{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxcryptor.com/en/blog/post/nordlocker-cloud-encryption-nordvpn/|title=NordLocker: The New Cloud Encryption Solution by NordVPN |website=Boxcryptor|date=November 1, 2019|access-date=December 17, 2020}}

• Encryption
• Internet privacy
• Secure communication

{{Reflist}}

• {{official website|https://nordlocker.com/}}

Category:Cryptographic software

Category:Proprietary cross-platform software

Category:Cloud storage

Category:Internet properties established in 2019