The Definitive Guide to Free Computer Encryption Software

Insert a logo and it will take 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 guess, 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 allows you to combine your encrypted documents in one secure location, whether it's a locker, library or vault.

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

Although encrypting such a small batch of files only took seconds in most situations, some apps took minutes to finish the job. 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 information, you could be looking at hours of waiting.We also clocked the speed of decryption and found that many apps are able to supply you with access to your own documents fairly quickly.

The apps we include in our lineup are overall simple and intuitive, especially Folder Lock and Secure IT. They 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 right-click on a file and choose to encrypt it in the menu.In almost every test, we discovered these file encryption applications compress files since they encrypt them.

Top Guidelines Of Fastest Encryption Software

People who compressed documents the most obtained more charge in scoring.SecurityEncryption applications uses different types 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 could 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 programs include an option to shred your files when you are ready to infect info.

To"shred" documents, an app 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 likely safe from info recovery.Your documents and information are 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 the program is helpful. Many programs require a master password to use the application, and then another password for each vault or collection of files. Password generators are Learn More 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 to the tester to unlock the files.

Computer Encryption Programs Can Be Fun For Anyone

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 the security feature, but programs like Folder Lock and Advanced Encryption Package Pro make it easy to access. Stealth mode provides even more solitude anyone else that logs on to a personal computer or hacks in won't even recommended you read see that you utilized encryption software.After encrypting documents, a few applications enabled us to back up the protected data and connect to upload to a server, like google Drive or Dropbox, which 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 seeks, whenever possible, to evaluate all products and solutions in hands-on tests that mimic as closely as possible the experiences of a typical 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 security is the utmost element in picking the ideal encryption software for you personally, it's obviously important that you opt for a program which is suitable for your system. Also, if you run into problems with your applications, 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, like Vista or XP, then you want to make sure the app still supports your operating platform.