The article I posted a few days ago – Free Secret Disk – Keep Your Secret Computer Files “Secret”, led to a more than a few reader questions on additional free encryption applications.
So, I’ve retested the updated versions of a number of free encryption applications I’ve recommended in the past few years, and I’ll post on these in the coming days – starting today with EncryptOnClick
EncryptOnClick ( last updated March 08, 2011), is a free program that lets you securely encrypt and decrypt files/folders. The program is very simple to use, and features military grade 256-bit AES encryption.
After you have launched the application, simply select the target file/folder you want to encrypt.
Following the easy interface, type a password for that file/folder which will then be encrypted. To open the encrypted file/folder at a later date, you must type the correct password.
In the following example I’ve chosen to encrypt a folder by clicking on the Folder button…
which prompted me to browse and select the target folder.
The application took approximately one minute to encrypt this 220 MB folder and its sub folders.
In the following graphic you can see that the file I’ve highlighted, within the encrypted folder, can only be accessed through EncryptOnClick.
Click on graphic to expand to original size.
Decrypting the selected folder is just as simple and straightforward.
In the following graphic you can see that the file I’ve highlighted within the folder (following decrypting), can now be accessed normally.
Click on graphic to expand to original size.
Fast facts:
A very secure encryption and decryption method is used (256-bit AES encryption)
Files are both compressed & encrypted, which results in a smaller file
Password protected
Will encrypt single files or all files in a folder
Very simple to use interface
Can be used on a USB key
Fully Unicode enabled so filenames in any language can be encrypted
Will encrypt, decrypt, compress, and uncompress files which can also be opened and decrypted using third party programs like WinZip 9 – provided the correct password is used
Will detect if you’re decrypting a file that is in a temporary folder, and if so, will prompt you to see if you would like to decrypt it into a different folder
Command line parameters can be used
Complete help file
Tip: Run on a Flash Drive by copying the files EncryptOnClick.exe, EncryptOnClick.exe manifest, ExceedZip.dll to a named folder on the Flash Drive.
System Requirements: Windows XP, Vista, Win 7 and NT.
Download at: Download.com
Tomorrow: Free Encrypt Stick reviewed.
If you found this article useful, why not subscribe to this Blog via RSS, or email? It’s easy; just click on this link and you’ll never miss another Tech Thoughts article.
Bill Mullins' Weblog - Tech Thoughts 