Security Suite
Stars as the Encrypt Keeper:
Steganos Security Suite 5
STEGANOS SECURITY SUITE 5 IS A HEAVY-DUTY COLLECTION of
privacy tools that erases browser cache files and history, shreds personal files, manages
passwords, and encrypts hard drive folders and e-mail. You'll probably never need most of
these tools at home, but in a business environment where data protection is essential,
this $49 toolbox is a valuable asset.
The core of the suite is its ability to encrypt files,
employing 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and Counterpane's Blowfish, to suit
your business needs. The Steganos Safe feature lets you save applications and data to up
to four secure safe drives, each of which holds encrypted data on the hard drive where the
software resides. When a safe drive is open, its letter is added to your copy of Windows
Explorer, allowing you to run applications, create directories and files, and edit
documents as you would on an unencrypted drive.
The Portable Safe feature encrypts a file or group of files
inside what is called a "prepackaging drive," which you then burn onto a CD or
DVD. You can then transport the storage medium at will, with its contents securely
encrypted. The E-mail Encryption tool uses a similar technique, turning a message and any
number of attached files into a password-encrypted executable. The password manager is not
as robust as others on the market, however.
Other utilities in the suite include a personal file
shredder, which leaves no traces of a deleted file, and the Internet Trace Destructor,
which prevents others from tracking your Internet-surfing activities. Trace Destructor
works by letting you select from a list of "computer traces" to be removed,
including Internet files, Web-browser cookies and history, and lists of recently accessed
applications and documents.
While testing Steganos, we got two false positives from
Norton AntiVirus on encrypted e-mail executables created in Windows 98, and Windows
2000/XP repeatedly tagged similar e-mail executables as potentially unsafe. Steganos
blames Microsoft's safety measures for the latter and suggests creating alternate
encrypted files using CAB instead of EXE files.
Ultimately, Steganos Security Suite 5's excellent
collection of data-protecting tools is best suited for small businesses and corporations.
EDITORS' RATING 8.7
PROS:
Solid encryption; easy, safe storage of sensitive files;
shreds private documents; removes all traces of Web activity
CONS:
Triggered some false positives in antivirus software;
mediocre password manager
REQUIRES: Windows 95, 98, Me, NT 4.0, 2000, or XP
Copyright 2003 Gale Group, Inc. ASAP
Copyright 2003 ZDNet Computer Shopper August 1, 2003, BYLINE: Brenesal, Barry |