New Privacy Tools from Lavasoft

Anti-Spyware maker Lavasoft is getting into the privacy racket with new digital tools for locking and shredding digital information. Today it releases Lavasoft File Shredder, Lavasoft Digital Lock, and Lavasoft Privacy Toolbox(which includes both products).

The new family of Lavasoft programs is available today and each is compatible with both Windows XP and Vista operating systems. None of the new products are free, but come with a 30-day trial.

I gave both Lavasoft File Shredder and Digital Lock a quick look and feel File Shredder stands out. When it comes to file encryption you have lots of options and many of them are free such as PKware, TrueCrypt and others. But I liked the advanced features offered by Lavasoft File Shredder which included special attention to the unique needs of those using Windows Vista. However, if you're an XP user you might also want to consider free file shredding options such as File Shredder.

Lavasoft Digital Lock

With Digital Lock ($30) you can securely encrypt and password protect files, folders, compressed zip and .exe files. Digital Lock is fast, lightweight, supports the heavy-duty 256 Bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).

Using Lavasoft Digital Lock is easy enough just select files for encryption and right-click and a Lavasoft cursor menu item gives you the option of encrypting the file or folder. You can also configure the program to shred the original file after encryption.

One nice touch Lavasoft offers a free decrypt program called Lavasoft Encyption Reader (Link TK). This is handy if you are sending someone a Lavasoft Digital Lock file and the recipient doesn't have the Digital Lock program.

Lavasoft File Shredder

Think you deleted that file once and for all? Think again. When you delete files using Windows Explorer and even empty them from the Recycle Bin it is still possible to recover the file or some of its contents.

Lavasoft File Shredder ($30) securely erases files or folders on your PC using a U.S. Department of Defense shredding algorithm which includes seven rounds of overwriting to ensure files never come back to life.

The Vista compatible File Shredder program also takes on the unique needs of Vista users. In Vista when you need a previous version of a file or folder, right-click it in Explorer and choose Restore previous versions. Lavasoft File Shredder deletes all previous versions.

Lavasoft File Shredder is an easy program to use. Just choose your files, tell the program to shred them, and "poof" they are gone forever. Another nice feature lets you clean up your computing history. To use this feature select "Shred all free space guide" and you can clean your computer from all old deleted files and folders that are still stored on the free space of your computer's drives. A Shred System Files feature will also delete temporary system files, Internet files, cookies, Windows temp files.

Lavasoft Privacy Toolbox

The Lavasoft Privacy Toolbox ($40) is simply both File Shredder and Digital Lock bundled together in one interface. The program is reasonably priced compared to competing product offerings. With this software combo package Lavasoft nicely merges both File Shredder and Digital Lock giving you the tools you'll need to keep your digital life private.

For the privacy minded who are already fans of Lavasoft's Ad-Aware software, purchasing any one of these products is money well spent. All three meet the same ease-of-use standards and advanced features found in Ad-Aware. For penny pinchers Lavasoft's privacy and security package may not be the best fit - considering the wealth of freebie alternatives.

Check back for a more comprehensive review.

Comments

Pretty interesting, seeing as how Ad-aware 2007 for Vista would not even install properly.

>>RSM

rcapy

September 03, 2007

12:58 PM PT