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Encrypt your folders, maintain a backup and make sure your portable drives are secure

Encrypt your folders, maintain a backup and make sure your portable drives are secure

Vote: (411 votes)

Program license: Trial version

Developer: newsoftwaresinc

Version: 7.8.9

Works under: Windows

Vote:

Program license

(411 votes)

Trial version

Developer

Version

newsoftwaresinc

7.8.9

Works under:

Windows

Pros

  • Integrates with File Explorer
  • Many different options
  • Works with Windows XP and higher
  • Simple to use

Cons

  • Dated interface
  • Sometimes hides menu choices
  • Can't recover lost passwords

Folder Lock is a standalone app for Microsoft Windows that makes it easy for users to encrypt files and directories. It partially automates the process of maintaining online backups and can even secure portable drives.

Since it works at the standard abstraction layer, it doesn't matter what sort of underlying file system you have objects stored on. Whether you want to protect files stored on a CD, DVD or USB drive, Folder Lock has the tools you need to ensure absolute security.

In fact, it might be a little too secure for some consumers. Folder Lock offers 256-bit AES on-the-fly encryption of all data coupled with an integrated syncing service. At times, that may actually prove to be too much security for some users. If you were to forget your password, then you wouldn't be able to recover that in most circumstances.

On the other hand, that makes Folder Lock a great tool for the business world. A drive that's encrypted with it will stay that way. If someone were to steal or lose a piece of physical media, then nobody that ended up finding it would ever be able to recover data from it in a reasonable length of time.

Users can also create encrypted wallets with the app, which can help them store personal payment details. Bank account and business card information can be imported into the app securely, so they can be sure that everything they use will remain secure online. Wallets, just like folders, would stay safe even if they were somehow reproduced by an outside party.

Pros

  • Integrates with File Explorer
  • Many different options
  • Works with Windows XP and higher
  • Simple to use

Cons

  • Dated interface
  • Sometimes hides menu choices
  • Can't recover lost passwords

Pros

  • Multiple Locking Options
  • Integrated w/ Windows Explorer
  • Bonus Features
  • Convenient Wallet Function

Cons

  • Unattractive UI

Folder Lock is a piece of software that helps you protect your digital content from prying or overly-curious eyes with encryption and passwords. The app is small, comprehensive, and exceptionally useful.

Files and folders that need to be kept personal and private can be protected with the power of Folder Lock. Unlike free examples of this sort of software that are available online, such as My Lockbox, Folder Lock is a premium app that has advanced configuration selections that can be used to protect your documents and other files from any unwanted attention.

There are a number of methods to lock files and folders with Folder Lock. When the software is downloaded and installed, it becomes integrated with the Explorer in your Windows system. That means much of the functionality found in the app can be enjoyed directly through your Windows operating system. When you encounter a file that requires locking, you can right-click the file for a list of options. From here, you can either lock the file with a personalized password or shred it using the permanent delete function found in Folder Lock.

You can also lock files through the user interface of the app itself, and this method gives you access to many, many more locking options. For instance, you can choose to lock files, encrypt files, or both. Folder Lock also includes the ability to encrypt attachments on emails. It can be used to apply protective features to CDs, DVDs, and USB flash drives. While the name of the app might imply that its functionality is limited to locking and protecting folders, the app is actually aimed at complete digital protection through advanced encryption and password privacy.

The flexibility of Folder Lock is where the software really stands out. It can clearly lock folders, but it also has several other features that are just as useful. The software can be used to create virtual Wallets with full encryption. These Wallets don't necessarily hold currency, but instead they hold personal information related to your finances, like data or statements from your bank. You can also store more innocuous private data in these Wallets, like phone numbers, addresses, and other contact info.

After Folder Lock has finished encrypting your data, it can back up all that content to the wireless cloud. You can easily reconfigure the software to work for your specific needs, and you can even password-protect the system settings for the app.

Overall, Folder Lock is an exceptional option for protecting your data with a completely free locking app. While it's certainly true that the market has a number of similar apps that are free, many of those options lack the intuitive nature or bonus features of Folder Lock. It costs relatively little to download and try for yourself, and it's quite a useful tool to keep around.

Pros

  • Multiple Locking Options
  • Integrated w/ Windows Explorer
  • Bonus Features
  • Convenient Wallet Function

Cons

  • Unattractive UI