Crypto123 for Windows

This simple-looking app lets you securely store text files in an encrypted, password-protected form. Whats more, you can embed encrypted messages in other files, increasing the security for the file.

Crypto123s apparent simplicity is deceptive. Although this shareware is essentially a text editor, like Notepad, it offers more bells and whistles add extra security to your files. As a text editor, it offers a very simple interface: a pane with multiple tabs for creating and securing documents. It has basic formatting options: different font faces, sizes, and colors.

Any novice can master Crypto123's functions in a matter of minutes. Each tabs clearly defined prompts--for creating, opening, or saving a text file; setting a password for encrypting or decrypting; embedding a file within another file; and extracting a hidden file from another file--make navigating the apps functions a very simple matter.

Crypto123 performed well in our tests. Even embedding an encrypted text file in a graphics file was a piece of cake--the embedding process required only a few seconds. And we found no tell-tale clues regarding the hidden file in the output file's Properties dialog box afterward. However, we must note that extracting this small encrypted file from the graphics file required several minutes.

Crypto123 is suitable for saving essential information. For this reason, the developers recommend Crypteditor for saving passwords, serial numbers, and other info that should be stored securely. Being able to password protect an encrypted file that's further hidden within another file adds an extra layer of security to this essential info. There's a nag screen at launch that is only minimally annoying, but the shareware fee is minimal and a bargain for the simplicity and functionality offered by this app.