Tools hakin9 5/2007

VIP Files Protector

System: Windows

License: Commercial/Free Trial

Application: File and Folder Security

Homepage: http://www.vipdefense.com

VIP Files Protector is a tool for encrypting, decrypting, shredding, hiding and showing files and folders.

Quick start: A user has files on a computer that they do not want anyone else to see or to even have access. Or maybe a user does not want anyone to know that the files even exist. And what does a user do with these files when they want to securely delete them? That’s where VIP Files Protector steps in.

VIP Files Protector is a quick installation with the executable only 2.46 MB in size. And once installed VIP Files Protector has an easy to use friendly interface. After an initial prompt to enter a user created password for the Main Password that will be used with VIP Files Protector (make sure to remember this password) the program is ready to roll.

Main Window

From the Main Window the user has the option to Encrypt Files, Decrypt Files, Shred, Hide and Open Files.

Encrypting files is easy and a user can select from one of 18 encryption algorithms some of which are used by DOD and the CIA. The encryption process is easy through the user interface and can be done at the file level or the folder level. The encrypted files will have an .enc file extension. After selecting the files that will be encrypted the user is asked for a password and the user has the option to Mask Password and the option to Delete Source files after encryption. After making the appropriate selections a press of the encrypt button and VIP Files Protector goes to work. Once the encryption process is complete VIP Files Protector will tell the user how many files were encrypted.

To decrypt files the user selects the files to be decrypted and the user is asked for the password and has the same options as the encryption process of Mask Password and Delete Source files after decryption. Select the Decrypt button and once again VIP Files Protector goes to work, once complete the program will display the total number of files decrypted.

Shredding files is fast and easy as well, with the user able to select from 11 different shredding algorithms. Once the user selects the file to shred and the appropriate shredding algorithm simply click on the Shred button and the file(s) or folder(s) are safely removed.

Hiding files is also a simple task in VIP Files Protector. Simply select Hide from the menu and enter the Main Password that was created by the user, select the files or folders that need to be hidden from Explorer and click on the Hide button as soon as VIP Files Protector is finished it will show the number of files that were hidden.

To show hidden files simply select Show from the main menu, enter the Main Password that was created by the user, select the file or folder that is to be shown and select the Show button. Again VIP Files Protector will show the number of files that were successfully removed from hiding allowing everyone with access to see the files and/or folders.

Other useful features

To use any of the features of VIP Files Protector the user does not have to go through the Main Menu, the user has the option to right click on the file or folder and select whether to encrypt, hide or shred the selected item. If the item has already been encrypted the user will also have the option to decrypt the file or folder.

VIP Files Protector will work with thumb drives, external hard drives and will work across network shares.

Disadvantages: The demo version only allows the software to be used 50 times, if the user does not keep up with the number of times this software is used in the demo phase they may find that they have encrypted or hidden files and have no more free uses available to them.

Support is available to the registered users but is only email support.

by Steve Lape