The latest version of Passware Kit Forensic has become the first commercially available software to break TrueCrypt hard drive encryption without applying a time-consuming brute-force attack. It was also the first product to decrypt BitLocker drives.

Long believed unbreakable, TrueCrypt is a free open-source full-disk encryption software for Windows 7/Vista/XP, Mac OS X and Linux, that creates virtual hard disks with real-time encryption.

Passware Kit Forensic allows for memory acquisition of a seized computer over the FireWire port, even if the computer is locked. When a target computer is seized and turned on with the encryption disk accessible, the software scans its memory image and extracts the encryption keys, so law enforcement personnel can access the stored data.

Passware Kit Forensic 9.7 is a complete encrypted evidence discovery solution that reports all password-protected items on a computer and gains access to these items using the advanced decryption and password recovery algorithms. The software, which can also run in portable mode from a USB drive, is capable of finding encrypted data and recovering file and website passwords without making any changes to the target computer.

It supports over 180 different file types and features recovery of passwords for PGP archives and virtual disks. The software supports Windows 7, Vista, 2003, XP, and 2008 Server, and now works with Guidance EnCase E01 disk image files — the de-facto standard for computer forensics.

The solution is now available with a suggested list price that starts at $795. The software comes with one year of free software updates. Free trial licenses are also available.