Anvi Folder Locker Free

Pros

• Installs extremely quickly
• Few configuration options to mess with
• Password protects documents
• Simple user interface

Cons

• Not much in the way of customization
• Doesn't allow users to pick their own encryption algorithms

Anvi Folder Locker Free is an encryption utility that adds a minimum layer of security to important documents. While it doesn't offer the most sophisticated encryption algorithms currently in use, it does make it considerably harder to access regular files than it would otherwise be. Most importantly, it works extremely quickly so users won't be tempted to disable their security stack just to increase overall performance. That's good news for personal and education market users.

When you first load up the app, you'll be given what's essentially a blank window that allows you to select a set of personal files. Once you've found everything that you want to protect, Anvi gives you the freedom to set your own password. There's no real limitation on the password that the app lets you pick, so you can feel free to add special characters like the pound or at signs to a password. It generally allows unlimited length passwords, too, so users can make some extremely secure combinations if they wish.

Special file permissions make it harder for other people to modify or remove files without asking you. These can be combined with the regular NTFS permissions that are accessible in Windows Explorer to make it even more difficult for people to have their way with your data. Any updates to these permissions are made on an atomic basis, so in the event of a system crash or memory link your files should still stay protected. The regular chkdisk or ntfsfix routines run by the machine's operating system should be more than enough to ensure that the latest security changes stick.

Since the app doesn't have any configuration or properties sheet to go through, it's easy to get up and running. Users who may not have worked with any sort of security program in the past can rely on Anvi without having to master any new skills. More experienced computer users may want to combine it with other security apps or perhaps a hotkey program that assigns it a keyboard shortcut. These aren't integrations that the app natively supports, but it's such a simple program that it lends itself well to that kind of manipulation.

While it's hard to predict every situation, Anvi shouldn't cause inadvertent data loss provided that you remember the password you set in the first place. The installation process is simple, so this shouldn't be a cause of any major issues either. Those who are looking for an extremely sophisticated security app probably won't find what they're looking for in Anvi Folder Locker Free.

Those who just want something extra to keep out individuals who'd try to snoop on them should find that it does so quickly and without giving them any hassle.

Pros

• Installs extremely quickly
• Few configuration options to mess with
• Password protects documents
• Simple user interface

Cons

• Not much in the way of customization
• Doesn't allow users to pick their own encryption algorithms