The Best Guide To Encryption Programs For Windows

Insert a symbol 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 difficult to imagine, such as"mYd0g!sMyp4ssw0rD," would take a PC about 3 quintillion years to figure out.Encryption Software: What We Tested, What We FoundMost of this encryption software for Windows we analyzed lets you combine your encrypted files in one protected location, whether it is a locker, library or vault.

Ideally, the file encryption software you choose should get the job done quickly, be user friendly and maintain your information safe.PerformanceWe analyzed all the encryption methods thoroughly using 63 documents which totaled 128MB to determine which application was the greatest 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, but if you are encrypting gigabytes of information, you could be looking at hours of waiting.We also clocked the speed of decryption and found that most apps are able to give you 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 both guide you through processes step by step. Secure IT gives you access to encryption by integrating with the Windows operating system, so all you have to do is right-click on a document and choose to encrypt it in the menu.In almost every evaluation, we discovered these file encryption applications compress files since they encrypt them.

The 3-Minute Rule for Free Computer Encryption Software

Those that compressed documents 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 sort of the Rijndael cipher and can be used by the U.S. government, including the National Security Agency, so it's considered one of the strongest encryption ciphers available.

Although any one of these ciphers could 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 employ AES.Many data programs include an option to shred your documents when you are all set to infect info.

To"shred" files, an app overwrites the data with random bits of information. Data recovery is a lengthy process, so unless you are in the business of trade secrets or espionage, your own hard drives are probably safe from data 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 require a master password to use the application, 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 think of strong passwords yourself.We sent encrypted files through email and provided a password to the tester to unlock the documents.

The Ultimate Guide To Free Computer Encryption Software

You are using your mouse, which prevents potential keyloggers out of official website 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 easy to access. Stealth mode offers even more privacy anyone else who logs on to a personal computer or hacks in won't even see that you used encryption software.After encrypting files, some software enabled us to back up the secure 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 space and your files remain safe.Top Ten Reviews seeks, whenever possible, to evaluate all goods 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 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 security is this website the utmost element in picking the right encryption software for you, it's always important that you opt for a click reference program which is suitable for your 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're running an old version of Windows, such as Vista or XP, then you want to be certain the app still supports your operating system.