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What's the biggest threat to your data? Is it snooping, or device theft, or hacking, or simple carelessness? How about all of the above? Suppose you could lock down your files, folders, drives, and devices with password protection; encrypt critically important data on the fly; store it on your smartphone or thumbdrive; and back it all up to a secure online storage locker that automatically syncs data and lets you access it on mobile devices? We'll tell you now that we're referring to one utility, Folder Lock, before we continue enumerating its features, which also include stealth mode, hack protection and logging (including forced shutdown); wallets for personal information like credit card numbers, file shredding, application-level passwords; and more. The latest release, Folder Lock 7, adds enhanced drag-and-drop capability, easier unlocking, and automatic backups of encrypted data to your online storage share. Folder Lock is free to try, with a 30-use limit.
Folder Lock installed smoothly in both our 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7 systems. On first run, you're prompted to create a master password and enter it twice, consecutively: it's important to get it right. Folder Lock's colorful, wizardlike interface resembles a lot of premium tools, especially backup utilities. The left sidebar accesses its main features -- Lock Files, Encrypt Files, Secure Backup, Protect USB/CD, and Make Wallets -- which are all pretty much self-explanatory, except Make Wallets (which are nothing like you made at summer camp). All these features are easy to set up, and Folder Lock's interface walked us through each step. Clicking Learn More opened the User Guide, an excellent Help file that explains everything about using Folder Lock. An Xtras menu offers a file shredder and history cleaner; both pull their weight.
Folder Lock 7's security tools make it worth paying for over a collection of similar freeware tools, if it's possible to assemble one. But the online storage and sync makes the crucial difference. It not only stores and syncs data but also creates fully portable, secure, encrypted Lockers. You can even convert Lockers into encrypted executable files you can distribute to clients with help from the Protect USB/CD feature.
Editors' note: This is a review of the trial version of Folder lock 7.1.1.
Folder Lock - Lock, hide, encrypt, and password-protect personal files, folders, drives - Download Video Previews:Publisher's Description
From NewSoftwares:
Folder Lock is a full suite solution letting you keep your personal files encrypted and locked, while keeping an automatic and real-time backup of encrypted files to an online storage. It also offers portable security for USB drives and CDs/DVDs. Folder Lock also lets you lock files, folders and drives; save your personal information in Wallets; shred files and clean your Windows History. Folder Lock offers 256-bit AES on-the-fly encryption as well as syncing of encrypted files to an online storage. No need to decrypt or manually backup your files. You can later restore files at any time, on any computer. Lockers can also be converted to executables using the 'Protect USB/CD' feature that allows you to keep your encrypted files wherever you go in USB drives or CDs and DVD or convert your files and folders to encrypted ZIP files for email attachments.
Furthermore, if you want to protect your files without encrypting them, you can also lock your files, folders and drives on your PC from access and visibility. You can also create Encrypted Wallets to save personal information like Credit Cards, Bank Accounts and Business Cards. You can also Shred files, folders, drives and empty hard drive space. You can also clean Windows usage history. Additionally, Folder Lock comes with additional security settings unheard before. You can activate password security and restrict access to different parts of the application using an admin level master password. You can run the application in complete stealth using the Stealth Mode feature. You can also catch and perform actions on repetitive hack attempts and on basis of incorrect password logs and you can set automatic duration based protection for your data security, so you know that your stuff is no longer accessible to anyone else when you're away from your PC. Folder Lock works under all flavors of 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 7/Vista/XP and later.
What's new in this version: Version 7.1.5 includes support for Windows 8. Now Folder Lock is completely compatible on all Windows operating systems.
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All versions:
3.7 starsout of 1,199 votes
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Current version:
4.8 starsout of 4 votes
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My rating:
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Results 1-4 of 4
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"Encrypted lockers are truly dynamic."
Version: Folder Lock 7.1.5
Pros
Encrypted lockers can be uploaded to a cloud server.
Cons
It has all the bells and whistles I need, nothing negative on my end.
Summary
As a professional dentist, I wanted to go paperless, so I began storing patient data on our clinic's server. As a dentist, patient confidentiality is one of my top priorities ranking quite high. I was looking to purchase software that enabled me to encrypt patient files, this lead me into researching various software that are designed for such purpose. Sadly, the multitude of software I tried did not live up to my expectations. Finally, I came across Folder Lock, My first impression was that it was very simple to use. I simply created encrypted lockers and stored all patient data into individually labeled lockers. Later I discovered that you can also upload encrypted lockers onto a cloud server. I have to say, the security features this software has is quite simply unrivaled by its competitors.
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"Pretty good overall"
Version: Folder Lock 7.1.5
Pros
Locks and encrypts files, makes your lockers portable - I can put the encrypted lockers on a USB stick, for example. All good. The UI is pretty straightforward.
Cons
Doesn't let you create NTFS format encrypted lockers directly on a USB hard drive. All I can do is FAT32, by default. Which means I can't put large files (like a system image file which is several GB) into it. I also can't just lockup a large (say, 500 GB+) usb-harddrive with a password. Why does this sw (and any other that I've researched, not do this?). Finally, I think the UI could be a little more business like and professional looking (without sacrificing the ease of use, if course.)
Summary
Works well. Has some good features and ease of use. But I'm not sure I'll strongly recommend it. I think people should look at other programs (including Freeware like Truecrypt) - those may be more than enough, before buying Folder Lock.
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"Comprehensive tools at an affordable price."
Version: Folder Lock 7.1.5
Pros
Best value and features for the money.
Cons
After purchasing this software at a bargain price, there's not much to complain about.
Summary
After falling victim to identity theft in the past, I have become more concerned about my data's security. I've tried several data security software which claimed to work effectively. However, after trying them out, I found them to be generic and substandard. Though, after coming across Folder Lock, I found it to be quite comprehensive that offered a broad-range of data security features unlikely any other software on the market. Moreover, I also discovered that there is much imitation software similar to Folder Lock. However, don't be fooled into purchasing substandard software claiming to lock folders. Folder Lock is the only original software that works.
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"It can lock entire drives."
Version: Folder Lock 7.1.5
Pros
Locking entire drives is easy and effortless.
Cons
I didn't find anything wrong with it.
Summary
I have three different hard-drives which I use to save all my work related confidential data. Always worrying about others accessing it, I began my search for drive locking software; luckily I came across Folder Lock. After trying it for 1 week, I knew I had to purchase it. Now it's been over a year that I have been using it to protect my entire drives. Folder Lock has become such an integral part of my professional life that I cannot imagine using any other software. Just yesterday, I purchased the latest version of Folder Lock 7 which I found to be a lot more user-friendly.
Results 1-4 of 4
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