The Fastest Encryption Software Diaries

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

Ideally, the file encryption software you select should work quickly, be user friendly and maintain your information safe.PerformanceWe tested all the encryption methods thoroughly using 63 documents that totaled 128MB to determine which program was the greatest overall. Those that converted the documents quickly received more credit in the final scores than many others.

Although encrypting such a little batch of documents only took seconds in most situations, some programs took minutes to finish the task. When you're locking up only a few megabytes' worth of information, it's not a big deal, however if you're encrypting gigabytes of data, you could be looking at hours of waiting.We also simplifies the rate of decryption and found that most programs are able to supply you with access to your own 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 processes step by step. Safe 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 choose to encrypt it in the menu.In almost every test, we found these file encryption programs compress files as they encrypt them.

Unknown Facts About Best Hard Disk Encryption Software

Those that compressed files the most obtained more credit in scoring.SecurityEncryption applications uses 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 is used by the U.S. government, including the National Security Agency, so it is considered one of the strongest encryption ciphers available.

Though any one of these ciphers may 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 employ AES.Many data applications include an option to shred your documents when you're ready to bury data.

To"shred" files, an app overwrites the data with random bits of data. Data retrieval is a lengthy process, so unless you are in the business of trade secrets or espionage, your hard drives are probably safe from info recovery.Your files and information are only as safe and protected 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 need a master password to use the software, and then another password for each vault or collection of files. Password generators are also useful if you don't want to have to come up with strong passwords yourself.We sent encrypted documents via email and supplied a password into the tester to unlock the files.

Some Known Details About Best Hard Disk Encryption Software

You use your mouse, which prevents potential keyloggers out of recording your password as you type it. Your Windows operating system already includes a virtual keyboard, and that means you browse around these guys have access to this safety feature, but apps 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 utilized encryption software.After encrypting documents, some software allowed us to back up the protected data and connect to upload to a server, like 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 files 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 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 safety is the utmost element in picking the ideal encryption software for you, it's obviously important that you choose a program that works for your system. Also, if you run into issues with your software, you might 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 make sure the app still supports your operating platform.