A Biased View of Computer Encryption Programs

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

The document encryption software you choose should get the job done quickly, be user friendly and maintain your information safe.PerformanceWe tested all the encryption procedures thoroughly using 63 documents that totaled 128MB to determine which application was the best overall. Those that converted the documents quickly received more charge in the final scores than others.

Although encrypting such a small batch of documents only took seconds in most cases, some programs took minutes to finish the job. When you are locking up only a few megabytes' worth of information, it's not a big deal, however if you're encrypting gigabytes of information, you could be looking at hours of waiting.We also clocked the speed of decryption and found that many programs are able to give you access to your files fairly quickly.

The programs we include in our lineup are complete easy and intuitive, particularly Folder Lock and Secure IT. They guide you through procedures step by step. Secure IT provides you access to encryption by integrating with the Windows operating platform, so all you have to do is tap on a file and choose to encrypt it in the menu.In virtually every test, we discovered these file encryption programs compress files since they encrypt them.

The Ultimate Guide To Encryption Programs For Windows

People who compressed files the most obtained more credit in scoring.SecurityEncryption applications 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 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 of these ciphers may be broken given enough time and computing power, they are considered almost unbreakable. AES has long been recognized as the superior algorithm, so we gave more credit to the apps click for more that employ AES.Many data applications include an option to shred your documents when you're ready to bury data.

To"shred" documents, a program overwrites the data with random bits of data. Data recovery is a lengthy process, so unless you're in the business of trade secrets or espionage, your hard drives are likely safe from data recovery.Your documents and information will be only as safe and protected as your master 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 can also be useful if you don't want to have to think of strong passwords yourself.We sent encrypted documents via email and provided a password into the tester to unlock the files.

Best Hard Disk Encryption Software - Truths

You are using your mouse, which prevents potential keyloggers from recording your password as you type it. Your Windows operating system includes a virtual keyboard, and that means you have access to the security feature, but apps like Folder Lock and Advanced Encryption Package Pro make it effortless to access. Stealth mode offers even more privacy anyone else that logs on to your computer or hacks in won't even notice that you used encryption software.After encrypting files, a few software enabled us to back up the protected data and connect with upload to a server, such as Google Drive or Dropbox, which is called redundant safety.

In reality, you can upload any of your encrypted files into a cloud space and your files remain safe.Top Ten Reviews seeks, whenever possible, to assess all goods and services in hands-on tests that simulate as closely as possible the experiences of a normal consumer. We obtained the applications in our comparison on loan by the companies and via retail purchase.

Results of our evaluations were not provided to the companies in advance of publication.What Else Is Important in Choosing Encryption SoftwareWhile safety is the utmost element in picking the right encryption software for you, it is always important that you opt for a program which works for your system. Also, if you run into issues with your software, you may need to contact customer service 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 certainly want to be certain the program still supports your operating system.