Free Computer Encryption Software for Dummies

Add a symbol and it takes even longer"p4ssworD!" Would take about 275 days. An even stronger password would 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 require 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 documents in one protected place, while it's a locker, library or vault.

Ideally, the document encryption software you select should work quickly, be easy to use and keep your information safe.PerformanceWe tested all the encryption procedures thoroughly using 63 files that totaled 128MB to determine which program has been the best overall. People who 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 are locking up only a few 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 clocked the speed of decryption and found that most programs can supply you with access to your files fairly quickly.

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

Get This Report on Encryption Programs For Windows

People who compressed documents the most received more charge in scoring.SecurityEncryption software uses different types of ciphers to scramble your data, 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 accessible.

Though 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 exceptional algorithm, so we gave more credit to the programs that use AES.Many data programs include an option to shred your documents when you are ready to infect info.

To"shred" files, an app overwrites the data with random bits of information. Data retrieval is a lengthy process, so unless you're in the business useful site of trade secrets or espionage, your own hard drives are probably safe from data recovery.Your files and information will be only as safe and secure 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 software is useful. Many applications require a master password to utilize the software, and then a separate password for each vault or collection of documents. Password generators are also useful if you don't want to have to come up with strong passwords yourself.We sent encrypted files via email and provided a password to the tester to unlock the files.

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You use your mouse, which prevents potential keyloggers out of recording your password as you type it. Your Windows operating system includes a virtual keyboard, so you already have access to this security feature, but programs like Folder Lock and Advanced Encryption Package Pro make it effortless to access. Stealth mode provides even more solitude anyone else that logs on to special info a personal computer or hacks in won't even notice that you utilized encryption software.After encrypting files, some applications enabled us to back up the secure data and connect to upload to a server, such as Google Drive or Dropbox, which is called redundant safety.

In fact, you can upload any of your encrypted files into a cloud area and your documents remain safe.Top Ten Reviews seeks, 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 software in our comparison on loan from the companies and via retail purchase.

Outcomes of our evaluations were not provided 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 personally, it is always important that you opt for a program that works for your own system. Furthermore, 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're running an older version of Windows, such as Vista or XP, then you certainly want to make sure that the program still supports your operating platform.