I then checked to see if the file was gone. For those applications that allowed me to control the number of passes, I set the parameter to 5. I also encrypted and decrypted a single 1.3GB video (.MP4) file and timed those operations.įinally, I tested each program's shredding capabilities by timing how long it took to destroy the video file. I used the stopwatch to time how long it took to decrypt the files and noted any problems with the decrypted files. I then searched for one of the encrypted files and made sure it couldn't be opened without the password.
When encrypting, I used the same password for all the folders and files. I used a stopwatch to time how long it took to encrypt the files using AES encryption with a 256-bit key. I ran them both from the computer's drive and from a Lexar 16GB USB thumb drive. PPT formats) together, they totaled 140MB. Using an HP Elitebook Folio G1, I ran tests on a batch of ten files (including. When it comes to shredding, the best let you choose how many passes the program makes, making the safety of your data even more certain. There's a lot of variation in these five programs - mostly involving speed, level of customization and whether or not you can recover a lost or forgotten password. (All of the packages support Windows PCs only Kruptos 2 Professional supports Macs.)
For this roundup, I looked at five programs that can encrypt the files and folders you want to keep and shred those you don't: CryptoForge Encryption Software, Inv Softworks Kryptel, Kakasoft Advanced Folder Encryption, Kruptos 2 Professional and QuickCrypto. However, if you use a different version of these operating systems - or if you want to encrypt only specific folders or files rather than the entire drive - there are other resources.
By the same token, Apple's Mac OS 10.7 or later includes FileVault 2, which can encrypt a system's image with 128-bit XTS AES protection.
If your system is equipped with the Pro or Enterprise version of Windows 8.x or Windows 10, you're already set - you're equipped with Microsoft's BitLocker, which encrypts full volumes with the 128- or 256-bit AES cypher. In other words, it's completely unrecoverable. The underlying data remains intact until that part of the drive is overwritten with a new file.Ī military-grade shredder, such as those that meet the Department of Defense's 5220.22M standard, starts by removing its FAT entry from the system's drive and then randomizes the underlying data on the drive where the file was stored. As most computer-savvy users know, when you delete a file, all that is actually removed is the File Allocation Table (FAT) entry that the computer uses to track of what's on the drive. It's not enough to simply reformat the hard drive.
You also need to be especially careful when you get rid of a system or a hard drive.