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[ Go to June 1997 Table of Contents ]
WinLab Reviews
-- by Hailey Lynne McKeefry
Where's your 10-ton vault for protecting data from prying eyes? Authentex-DataSAFE puts security right on your PC's desktop using a variety of passwords, combinations and Blowfish, a 16-pass block encryption algorithm. DataSAFE works with all files and media, and secures e-mail attachments. On start-up, the program prompts you for a password of eight to 64 letters, numbers or symbols, which acts as the master combination to the safes created. The program even differentiates between upper- and lowercase letters. However, if you forget the password, your information is permanently locked away. To create a safe, we devised an eight-character combination and added it, as well as a memory jogger, to a list of combinations. A graphical safe appeared, and we were then able to drag any file type into it or use the "Add file to safe" command from the Contents menu. The Options menu allows you to compress data added to the safe, delete the source files, remember the last combination, add a note to the safe and conveniently include individual lock boxes within the safe, each with its own combination. If you choose to delete the source files, use extreme caution: Deleted materials cannot be retrieved, even with a recovery utility. You lock the safe by entering the combination. Finished safes can be stored on the system, on any media or sent as e-mail. The recipient needs only the combination to unlock the data. The versatile and easy-to-use DataSAFE program is an effective and inexpensive way to ensure your data's privacy. For these reasons, it joins our WinList of recommended products.
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