The Definitive Guide to Computer Encryption Programs

Insert a symbol and it takes even longer"p4ssworD!" Would take approximately 275 days. An even stronger password would be a sentence that's a combination of letters, numbers, symbols and capitalization. Something easy to remember but hard to imagine, like"mYd0g!sMyp4ssw0rD," would take a PC approximately 3 quintillion years to figure out.Encryption Software: What We Tested, What We FoundMost of the encryption software for Windows we tested lets you combine your encrypted files in one secure location, while it is a locker, library or vault.

Ideally, the document encryption software you select should get the job done quickly, be user friendly and keep your information safe.PerformanceWe analyzed each of the encryption methods thoroughly using 63 documents that totaled 128MB to determine which application has been the best overall. Those that converted the documents quickly received more credit in the final scores than others.

Although encrypting such a small batch of documents only took seconds in most situations, some apps took minutes to finish the task. When you're locking up only a few megabytes' worth of information, it is not a huge deal, however if you're encrypting gigabytes of data, you might be looking at hours of waiting.We also clocked the speed of decryption and found that many programs can supply you with access to your documents fairly quickly.

The apps we include in our lineup are overall easy and intuitive, particularly Folder Lock and Secure IT. They guide you through procedures step by step. Safe IT provides you access to encryption by integrating with the Windows operating system, so all you've got to do is tap on a file and choose to encrypt it in the menu.In virtually every evaluation, we found these file encryption applications compress files as they encrypt them.

The Buzz on Free Computer Encryption Software

People who compressed files the most received more charge in scoring.SecurityEncryption software employs different types of ciphers to scramble your information, and each has its own benefits. Advanced Encryption Standard, or 256-bit key AES, is a sort of the Rijndael cipher and can be used by the U.S. government, including the National Security Agency, so it is considered one of the strongest encryption ciphers available.

Although any one of these important site ciphers may be broken given enough time and computing power, they are considered practically unbreakable. AES has long been recognized as the superior algorithm, so we gave more credit to the apps that use AES.Many data applications include an option to shred your documents when you are all set to infect info.

To"shred" files, a program overwrites the data with random bits of information. Data retrieval is a lengthy process, so unless you're in the business of trade secrets or espionage, your own hard drives are more likely safe from data recovery.Your files and information are only as safe and secure as your password.

The longer and more random your password is, the tougher it is to break. A password strength meter included in the program is helpful. Many programs require a master password to utilize the software, and then a separate password for each vault or collection of documents. Password generators can also be useful if you don't want to need to come up with strong passwords yourself.We sent encrypted documents through email and supplied a password to the tester to unlock the documents.

Best Hard Disk Encryption Software for Beginners

You use your mouse, which prevents potential keyloggers out of recording your password as you type it. Your Windows operating system includes a digital keyboard, so you already have access to this security feature, but programs like Folder Lock and Advanced Encryption Package Pro make it easy to access. Stealth mode offers even more privacy anyone else that logs on to a personal computer or hacks in won't even notice that you used encryption software.After encrypting documents, a few software enabled us to back up the protected data and connect to upload to a server, such as Google Drive or Dropbox, which can be called redundant security.

In reality, you can upload any of your encrypted files to a cloud area and your documents remain safe.Top Ten Reviews seeks, whenever possible, to assess all goods and services in hands-on tests that mimic as closely as possible the experiences of a normal consumer. We obtained look at this website the software in our comparison on loan by the companies and through retail purchase.

Results of our evaluations were not given to the companies in advance of publication.What Else Is Important in Choosing Encryption SoftwareWhile safety is the utmost factor in picking the ideal encryption software for you personally, it's always important that you choose a program which works for your own system. Also, if you run into problems with your software, you might need to contact customer service or have access to online manuals and tutorials.Version CompatibilityIf you are running an older version of Windows, like Vista or XP, then you want to make sure that the program still supports your operating system.