The Definitive Guide to Free Computer Encryption Software

Insert a logo and it will take even longer"p4ssworD!" Would take about 275 days. An even stronger password would be a sentence that is a combination of letters, numbers, symbols and capitalization. Something simple to remember but hard to guess, like"mYd0g!sMyp4ssw0rD," would take a PC about 3 quintillion years to figure out.Encryption Software: Things We Tested, What We FoundMost of this encryption software for Windows we analyzed lets you combine your encrypted documents in one secure place, while it's a locker, library or vault.

The document encryption software you select should work quickly, be user friendly and keep your information safe.PerformanceWe tested all the encryption methods thoroughly using 63 files that totaled 128MB to determine which application has been the greatest overall. People who converted the files quickly received more credit in the final scores than many others.

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

The apps we include in our lineup are overall simple and intuitive, especially Folder Lock and Secure IT. They both guide you through procedures step by step. Safe IT gives you access to encryption by integrating with the Windows operating platform, so all you've got to do is right-click on a document and select to encrypt it in the menu.In almost every evaluation, we found that these file encryption programs compress files since they encrypt them.

Our Best Hard Disk Encryption Software Diaries

Those that compressed documents the most obtained more credit in scoring.SecurityEncryption software employs different kinds of ciphers to scramble your information, and each has its own benefits. Advanced Encryption Standard, or 256-bit key AES, is a form of the Rijndael cipher and is used by the U.S. government, including the National Security Agency, so it's considered one of the strongest encryption ciphers available.

Though any one of these 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 employ AES.Many data applications include an option to shred your files when you are all set to bury data.

To"shred" documents, an app overwrites the data with random pieces of data. Data retrieval is a lengthy process, so unless you're in the business of trade secrets or espionage, your own hard drives are probably safe from info recovery.Your documents and information will be only as safe and secure as your password.

The longer and more random your password is, the harder it is to break. A password strength meter included in this program is helpful. Many applications need a master password to utilize the application, and then another password for each vault or collection of documents. Password generators are also useful when you don't want to have to think of strong passwords yourself.We sent encrypted files via email and provided a password into the tester to unlock the documents.

Not known Factual Statements About Free Computer Encryption Software

You are using your mouse, which prevents potential keyloggers from recording your password as you type it. Your Windows operating system already includes a digital keyboard, and that means you already have access to this security feature, but apps like Folder Lock and Advanced Encryption Package Pro make it effortless to access. Stealth mode provides even more privacy anyone else that logs on to your personal computer or hacks in won't even see that you used encryption software.After encrypting documents, some applications allowed us to back up the protected data and connect to upload to a server, such as Google Drive or Dropbox, that can be called redundant security.

In reality, you can upload any of your encrypted files into a cloud area and your documents remain safe.Top Ten Reviews Aims, whenever possible, to evaluate all products and solutions in hands-on tests that mimic as closely as possible the experiences of a normal consumer. We obtained the applications in our comparison on loan by the companies and through retail purchase.

Outcomes of our evaluations were not given to the companies in advance of publication.What Else Is Important in Choosing Encryption SoftwareWhile security is the utmost factor in picking the ideal encryption software for you, it is obviously important that you choose a program which works for your system. Furthermore, if you reference run into issues with your software, you might need to contact customer support or have access to online manuals and tutorials.Version CompatibilityIf you are running an old version of Windows, such as Vista or XP, then you want to make sure that the program still supports your operating system.