Best Hard Disk Encryption Software - The Facts

Insert a logo and it takes even longer"p4ssworD!" Would take about 275 days. An even stronger password could be a sentence that is a combination of letters, numbers, symbols and capitalization. Something easy to remember but difficult to guess, like"mYd0g!sMyp4ssw0rD," would take a PC about 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 files in one secure location, whether it is a locker, library or vault.

The file encryption software you select should get the job done quickly, be easy to use and keep your information safe.PerformanceWe analyzed each of the encryption procedures thoroughly using 63 documents which totaled 128MB to determine which application has been the greatest overall. Those that converted the files quickly received more charge in the final scores than many others.

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

The programs we include in our lineup are overall 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 system, so all you have to do is tap on a document and select to encrypt it in the menu.In virtually every evaluation, we found that these file encryption programs compress files as they encrypt them.

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Those that compressed documents the most obtained more credit in scoring.SecurityEncryption software employs different kinds of ciphers to scramble your data, 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 one of these ciphers may be broken given enough time and computing power, they're considered almost unbreakable. AES has long been recognized as the superior 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 all set to bury data. see page

To"shred" documents, an app overwrites the data with random pieces of data. Data recovery is a lengthy process, so unless you are in the business of trade secrets or espionage, your hard drives are likely safe from info recovery.Your documents 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 helpful. Many programs require a master password to utilize the application, and then another password for each vault or collection of documents. Password generators are also useful if you don't want to need to come up with strong passwords yourself.We sent encrypted files via email and supplied a password to the tester to unlock the documents.

Best Hard Disk Encryption Software - Questions

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, so you have access to this safety feature, but programs like Folder Lock and Advanced Encryption Package Pro make it easy to access. Stealth mode offers 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, a few software allowed us to back up the secure data and connect with upload to a server, such as Google Drive or Dropbox, which is called redundant security.

In reality, you can upload any of your encrypted files to a cloud area and your files remain safe.Top Ten Reviews Aims, whenever possible, to evaluate all goods and services in hands-on tests that simulate as closely as possible the experiences of a typical consumer. We obtained the applications in a knockout post our comparison on loan from the companies and through 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 right encryption software for you personally, it is always important that you opt for a program which is suitable for your system. Also, if you run into problems with your software, you may need to contact customer support or have access to online manuals and tutorials.Version CompatibilityIf you're running an older version of Windows, like Vista or XP, then you certainly want to be certain the app still supports your operating system.