Incinerate Files with Kakasoft Super File Shredder

Normal File deletion in Windows (Shift + Delete) deletes only its metadata. Actually, the files hides on your hard disk somewhere and Windows only removes the entry from the FAT (file allocation table) so that the system does not see the file. These files can be found and recovered again as long as they haven't been overwritten by new data yet. As such the entire file can be recovered with the use of special data recovery softwares. To avoid privacy and security issues resulting from insecure file deletion, you need a software that will delete every trace of the existing file. Kakasoft Super File Shredder is such a software. It is distributed as Free under GNU public license. The software can quickly shred files by overwriting random bits, 15 times using advanced algorithms, making recovery literally impossible. According to the website:

Kakasoft Super File Shredder is simple but powerful program that surpasses manu commercial file shredders out there. The Author believes that such a utility should be available to anyone for free and that permanent and safe removal of confidential documents is a matter of basic right to privacy.

System mechanic 11 Standard Brings Full Power to your PC: Review & Giveaway

Few days ago, I wrote about System Mechanic 11 Free Version. Actually, I was offered to wrote about the paid version some time ago and since the software does have many features, I had split that to two reviews by first writing about the free version. As mentioned there the powerful Free version still lacks a number of useful features that the full standard version have. All those features make System Mechanic a suite that one can hardly complain about.

Undelete360 can Recover deleted Files and Shred Files & Free space: A Review

Normal delete function in Windows can only delete files metadata but keeps all the information, with which entire file can be recovered by file recovery software. Undelete360 is a Free software that can help you with recovering accidentally deleted files and also assist you to delete your sensitive files with precision to make it unrecoverable with any file recovery software.

Secure My Screen: An Ideal Alternative to Lock Windows PC

For most of us, personal computer is a place where we live our own world. Here, we do our office work, watch movies, listen to songs, play games etc. So, privacy is an utmost requirement to restrict unwanted interruptions. Microsoft understands this and that's why there is are options to create multiple user accounts, lock you account and switch to other. But there are some disadvantages in using multiple user accounts. Suppose you have an important job opened in your account and another user using his user account shuts down the PC. Windows does alert in such situation but how often common users respond properly to alerts in a PC! So, if the computer you are using is really 'Personal' and not for public usage, it is always recommended to use accounts that are under your control only (password protected). You may give its access to some reliable users by providing them the password.

Windows default account locking has a few disadvantages: To provide someone its access, you need to giveaway your password and he/she may change your password (for joking!) and under that situation there is almost no easy way to recover your password. Secure My Screen developed by Benchtech Software, is an alternative to Windows default account locking that has all its usefulness minus its disadvantages. According to the developer,

Secure My Screen is a revolutionary third party screen locker that is designed to keep your computer safe and secure whilst you are away from it. Secure My Screen employs advanced technology to make sure that your screen stays locked no matter what. Task manager cannot be used to close Secure My Screen and key combinations such as Alt + F4 and the close button will not work. Meaning that your screen really does stay locked. There is a great deal more to Secure My Screen than just screen locking however. Features such as multiple unlock passwords for trusted friends and family, and the ability to turn your screen onto standby when your system is idle make Secure My Screen one of the best screen lockers around.

Piriform CCleaner Adds Full support for Windows 8

CCleaner has always been my number 1 choice for cleaning junk files, privacy items & junk registry entries. In fact it is the first software of this kind I used after Windows default utilities. There are a number of positive sides of the application. It is open-source, regularly updated & supported by a large, helpful community, that makes it as perfect as possible. Moreover, you may add your custom programs for CCleaner to clean.

Today, Piriform, the developer of CCleaner have released yet another version of the leading software, with a complete support of the upcoming Windows 8.

Microsoft have released the final build of Windows 8 to developers, so we've spent the last week finalizing changes to CCleaner to allow us to fully support this next generation OS.

Kryptelite Encrypts Sensitive Files & Folders with ZIP and BZIP2 Data Compression & Shreds Original

Protecting sensitive data by encrypting it and then shredding the original is a must need set of job every professional needs to do. I have wrote about a few software that can do those jobs separately but only few are present that can do both jobs but none integrated both jobs at one go. Kryptelite is a free software Encrypts Sensitive Files & Folders using industry-standard AES cipher & with ZIP and BZIP2 Data Compression and then shreds the original so that it couldn't be recovered. Kryptelite is an excellent choice for those users who use encryption only occasionally. While it lacks bells and whistles of the more advanced editions, it still does the job perfectly and provides the same highest level of security.

Review: System Mechanic 11 Free - An Outstanding System Maintenance Suite

Although an Operating System acts like a Robot and just responds to sensory input, it does have some feature like a live species. It ages out like human or like any other live species with time. There are lots of sources of such aging like fragmentation in disk and registry, lots of junk files, invalid and junk registry entries, lots of unnecessary service and start-up items. Unlike a living system it is possible to repair and regenerate the youth of operating systems through proper maintenance.
Experts hold various different opinions regarding the mode of maintenance of an Operating systems. To be on the safe side it is preferable to try each and every mode and see its outcome. In this connection, it is worthy to mention that some operating system problems may originate from faulty hardware components like Hard Disk, Sata Cable, Motherboard, SMPS etc.
I usually perform maintenance of the operating system only when I see noticeable slowdown or system issues. Personally, I prefer to manually edit, clean things or with the help of minimum automation (software), because that gives me more pleasure and command over the changes to be performed. But those who are not so technically inclined and just want to have everything done with a few clicks of mouse, there are a number of system maintenance suites, free and paid. From my experience with those suites, most of those are either unable to cover up the entire maintenance protocols or just make false claims. There are only a few trustworthy suites available and System Mechanic from Iolo Technologies is one of such kind. This suite has both free and paid versions available and in this post I will be discussing about the Free product. The US based company recently has launched System Mechanic 11.

Google includes Web History into Search Suggestion

Google is the best search engine till date and they are always thriving to make it better and more better. If you have Web History enabled in your Google Account, you must have seen a new feature in Google Search Suggestion that shows your latest Google Search at the Top of other results.

Password Protect Folder Quickly with Portable GrekSoft Easy Directory Locker

Locking a folder containing important files is always a great idea if you want to restrict access to those files. I have wrote posts on software like Power Lock, LocK-A-FoLdeR that can help in such scenario. GrekSoft Easy Directory Locker is just another software that works similar way as Power Lock, except that it cannot lock files. The good part of the software is that it is portable, lightweight, easy to use and free.

Encrypt Files with Portable Encryption Apparatus

Encryption is the only way one can protect his files and documents from the access of malicious users. I have wrote a number of posts on software can encrypt files and folders and hide it fro curious eyes. Encryption Apparatus is a new portable freeware that can encrypt any file with ease. According to the developer,

This software is designed to secure anything that others shouldn’t know. When encrypting, it creates new file, adds a tag and then writes changed bytes from the original file, regarding to the key. When decrypting, it creates new file named as the original, removes tag and writes changed back bytes from the crypted file. If the key is correct, decrypted and original files will be the same.

Permanently Delete Files, Folders, Drives, Free Space, Registry, Junks and Internet Traces with Secure Eraser Standard Edition

Everyone needs privacy and security and to help everyone with this I have wrote a few articles on File/Folder/Text encryption and File/Folder Shredding. Secure Eraser Standard Edition from ASCOMP Software is an useful tool that can securely shred Files, Folders, Drives, Free Space, Registry, Junks and Internet Traces. In addition to overwriting sensitive files with random data, Secure Eraser supports other acknowledged deletion standards like US DoD 5220.22-M E, US DoD 5220.22-M ECE, German standard, Peter Gutmann standard. 

ImmediateCrypt: Cross Platform Portable Software to Encrypt and Decrypt Text

Often you might like to send a secure message to your partner. You must have liked to encrypt the message so that only your partner is able to open it. Encrypting text is a good thing to do in such scenario. ImmediateCrypt is a Cross Platform Portable Software to Encrypt and Decrypt Text Messages. It runs on Java and is pretty easy to use. ImmediateCrypt employs the following cryptographic standards and techniques:

1. AES-256 cipher
2. CBC block chaining
3. PKCS#5 PBE

It is released under the GPLv3 license and works under any Java-enabled environment (Windows, Linux and Mac OS X).

Power Lock Protects Files and Folders with a Password

It is always desirable to protect sensitive files and folders from curious eyes. I have wrote about a few software that can encrypt or lock both files or folders or both. Power Lock is a new open source software to serve both purpose. It is easy to use, uses little resources and is efficient.

File Secure Free is an All-In-One Toolbox to Manage Privacy and Security of Files, Folders and USB Drives

Normally we use different software for backing up important files and folders, encrypting personal files, locking personal USB drive and shredding sensitive files and folders. But with the first release of File Secure Free from Vitarsoft, you will not need separate application for performing the aforementioned tasks since it has all tools inbuilt and still it is Free. According to the developer

File Secure Free is all-in-one freeware in password locking folder, file and USB without any limitations. It is No.1 FREE software in protecting files and privacy, even more powerful than some paid applications. It has many useful functions, password lock folder and files, password lock USB drive, external hard drive and any other removable devices, file backup, file shredder, etc.

Files Terminator Free can securely delete files and folders

Normal deletion process in Windows leaves traces of files/folders which can be used to restore the original files with special file recovery software. Few days back I reviewed Pow Tools File Shredder that is able to securely delete files with powerful algorithms that ensure complete cleaning of traces of files/folders. Files Terminator Free from Elefant Software does similar thing but with less customizations but excellent accuracy.

MEO Encryption Compresses and Encrypts Sensitive Files and Emails

Few days ago I wrote about LocK-A-FoLdeR with which you can lock your sensitive files in a folder. Today I will write about another free software MEO Encryption which allows you to encrypt and decrypt files or folders or emails against unauthorized viewers. You can encrypt using either the BlowFish or 3-Des algorithims. MEO Encryption is developed by NCH Software.

LocK-A-FoLdeR secures your private files

Do you use a PC that your friends, colleagues or family members access? If yes, then you must have worried about your private files that you don't want to be accessed by others. LocK-A-FoLdeR is a tiny open-source [Apache License 2.0] application that lets you quickly lock your personal folder. According to the developer Gurjit Singh:

LocK-A-FoLdeR is a lightweight and easy to use program that allows you to hide and lock up any folders on your computer, making them invisible and inaccessible to anyone but yourself. After you create a master password, simply select the folder(s) you want to hide and click a button to make them disappear. To unlock a folder, enter your password and select the folder that you want to unlock.

Delete Files Securely with Pow Tools File Shredder

Windows have two types of deletion option. Selecting "Delete" from Context Menu or Pressing "Delete" button, moves a file to "Recycle Bin". Selecting "Delete" from Context Menu while holding "Shift" button or Pressing "Shift" & "Delete" at once deletes a file 'Permanently'. But how much 'Permanently' depends on many unknown parameters. On the safe side I can say there is always a chance to recover those files with the use of powerful softwares. So, if you want to ensure the deletion as permanent you need to use some special type of softwares to "Shred". Pow Tools File Shredder is one of that kind and its Free.

USB Disk Manager: A Passive Shield against Malwares Spreading through USB

USB devices are now the most popular offline medium to transport files from one PC to another. It is thus also the next to most popular infection vendor after internet. In a previous post I have written about MCShield that can actively protect you from infections spreading from USB drive. But what about a passive defense!! USB Disk Manager developed by Syed Ghulam Akbar is a tiny freeware that offers quick management on USB drives that you connect everyday to your PC or USB drives that you have.