96Crypt for Windows

Clear user instruction and a step-by-step approach make this encryption program a good choice for the novice, but more experienced users will find all the options they need.

96Crypt launches a medium-size window that may initially intimidate some encryption novices, but it quickly becomes clear that the developers gave considerable thought to designing an easy-to-comprehend app. A menu bar lines the top of the window, followed by a large prompt and some check boxes that lead the user through the encryption process step by step. A large pane lists the filenames of the documents you have encrypted. The dialog boxes and prompts are all very clear, and the contextual onscreen help and Help file clarify lingo and processes--making this an excellent tool for the encryption novice.

The apps appropriateness for novices doesn't mean it lacks power. We appreciate that this app provides a number of options users can apply to customize their output files. Users can select from six industry-standard block ciphers plus one combined algorithm. The default block cipher is a combined process using two algorithms, Twofish with Serpent. The two cipher modes used by 96Crypt are CTR (Cipher Counter Mode) and CBC (Cipher Block Chaining). We also like that we could choose from ten HASH function algorithms to further secure our output files.

96Crypt performed very well in our tests. Selecting cipher options was a snap, and the app executed the encryption and decryption processes in a matter of seconds. Our only concern was with the disk access error message we received each time the app was launched: A Disk Read/Write error has occurred. The process was aborted. Please report error (0023). Our investigations turned up no problems, and the app performed well despite the error message.

The trial limit is adequate for most users to determine the apps value to them, and the price isn't a budget buster. Anyone interested in dipping their cyber toes into the big encryption ocean should give this app a try.