All you who are saying this is stupid must be retarded or something. Try it before you say it's a waste of time. it is really easy to use and it's simple to un-encrypt. you simply retype the passwords.

Thanks for the really great proram. Installed smoothly on Windows Vista. If i, say go and download 100 hardcore porn pics onto my harddisk, i can make them all 1 big zip file and then with this little jewel (Safest 2006) i can encrypt this zip file with 2 passwords that nobody but i know.

The zip file becomes useless for others and keeps protected from wife's and kids' prying eyes to see!! This is really useful small encryption tool. And now it is free!! Thanks so much Gaotd (And greetings to all from the "safe" Finland ;) ) regards, Timppa

I tried algorithm, with two passwords, protected every file thought the world is safest four times. Application passwords discover best creation with particular high official. Two passwords modifies particular user typed by the impossible.

I'm not going to even bother to download or install software on my computer if nobody would even bother to put enough effort towards it to write even a mildly comprehensible description.

# 46: Normally I would agree with you, but as we’re talking of a security program I have to disagree.

In this area I have no respect for amateurish programs, and that's what this is!

If you want to protect your files, opt for a solid solutions like the free Truecrypt or (my favourite) DriveCrypt
http://www.truecrypt.org/
http://www.securstar.com/products_drivecrypt.php

Sorry GOAOTHD,

The dual encryption password is pointless as well as having to repurchase the program if your computer crashed and you actually needed to get into a file that was password protected. If someone's files are that important, they should be burning them to a disk and storing them in a fireproof safe (about$90), preferably offsite. My wife and I have lots of home movies and pictures that we store to removable media and place in a fireproof safe. I personally have no illegal data that I need to double encrypt, if I did need to encrypt something like out tax records I would use Invisible Secrets http://www.invisiblesecrets.com/ they have been on this site before, although I purchased the software as it is an outstanding program and I don't need the program to decrypt the file.

Not that I claim to know anything more about today's software than anyone else. Nor, will the following probably matter to a lot of people, but, I was just surfin' the 'net, looking to see what kind of encryption software is out there, and I stumbled onto "Bildsoft Safest 2006" at this one Web site that provides downloads & reviews.

And according to its figures, it asserts that today's giveaway, Bildsoft Safest 2006, tops the list as the most downloaded program in their encryption category of software programs. Beating out the likes of freeware such as TrueCrypt and AxCrypt.

Again, that's not to say that it is better than the aforementioned 2 freeware apps. It just sort of made me raise an eyebrow or 2 because I wasn't intentionally researching Bildsoft Safest 2006. I just happened to come across it in my general search for encryption programs. I just thought it was mildly interesting.

In any case, I defer to the other posters, as I admittedly know nothing of today's GOTD. But to those who would like to know more about it:

http://en.softonic.com/list/bydownloads-576-c

Lol, I don't even have to download most of this stuff to know it's junk.
It blows my brain that so many of the write-ups are not proof read by someone who knows the English language.
IE: Proper grammar, sentence structure and the use of a functioning spell checker.

The fact that they don't think clearly enough to realize how important the written presentation of their product is makes me wonder what else they aren't paying attention to.

This is getting so prevalent, I'm beginning to wonder if the old Asus product manual writers are teaching English somewhere now. :)

Total JUNK. Safest 2006 is based on the very weak and highly vulnerable Blackhorse encryption algorythm, with AES 256 bit encryption of ONLY the keys (that is one reason they use multiple keys, they are weak!). The number of passes is inconsequential when each pass is shallow. It is no coincidence that Bildsoft is less than forthcomming with how thier algorythm works, depending instead on vague references to ancient documentation that some government offices somewhere might have at one time used AES (FYI, the U. S. Govt does NOT presently use AES due to being too easy to crack.

PGP Free (designed by Phil ZImmerman - so powerful that it qualifies as a weapon under Department of Defense rules) is way more powerful, with your selection of the number of passes, and encryption of both the file and the key up to 4096 bits. Something that Blackhorse is incapable of doing.

As someone said somewhere, this Safest 2006 is strong enough to keep your kid sister from reading your emails or accessing your files. PGP is strong enough to keep major world governmnets from getting anywhere near your files.

Other things that make it clear to me that this is not serious software (other than the very weak 256 byte encryption) based on the antique AES algorythm are that, one does not know what key servers are being used, validation is not transparent.

If you are really interested in true security, get FREE PGP at http://www.pgpi.org/ (learn more about why this dog has fleas at the same time) and use the time you save by NOT downloading this dog for some real security provided by PGP FREE.

I agree with everyone else. This program is not the best. Thank you GAOTD for your efforts. Thank you to the publisher Bildsoft for the offer. I hope you offer us some better software in the future. I also want to thank those that commented about Avyscript. I downloaded and tried. I will keep it.

If you don't like it, just say so. No need to be nasty. This is a nice site and I appreciate what they do!
Show a little respect!

I just wanted to say to BladedThoth that I appreciate his 15 minute reviews. I use these all the time. If I am not sure about a programme I check out his review. It has helped me pick out the software that I would use and not fill up my hard drive. Also thanks go to GOTD for giving us software to download if it fits our needs. I am here everyday checking out the programmes and games.

As any encryption specialist will tell you, encrypting twice with 2 passwords will not make it safer than once with one password. In fact it can make it more vunerable. If someone knows that the file is password protected (and changing the extension as this product does is silly) then if makes it more "interesting". Having a 100 documents on your PC with an extension of .abc makes it hard to find out A) which is the Private (encrypted) document and B) what software was used to create them. What no one has mentioned is, can a file be decrypted if moved to another PC? This was a problem with a piece of software that was available sometime ago, it could only be decrypted on the PC that did the original encryption. Encryption of normal documents is only meaningful for me when emailing them, and Word is strong enough for all casual viewers. For others I will continue with PGPi.

Some parts of the program (black horse algorithm) seem to be open source, as u can c on their website.
Possibly the whole application is 'open source' as it is easy
to restore souce code of managed code with reflector (a freeware .NET decompiler)
However, I would never trust a software, which needs connection to
internet for encryption.

Just download the freely available AxCrypt:

http://www.axantum.com/AxCrypt/

It's all you'll need and very easy to use.

well, I just learn cryptography and knew that you better not use untrusted encryption software,, because when you don't know how they encrypt your file, they may put some malicious code or they become the only one that able to decrypt beside you (because they know the encyption mechanism. However what said before about the program connecting to internet should be taken into consideration. The program might send your password or private data to their database. The encryption program should not need any internet connection to operate.

This is what they have to say at their website... along with my comments. sorry for length

Do you really think that your work is protected?

- as long as I don’t use your software

Managing Password in this unsafe world is the biggest concern of most of all, few years ago the only solution we had for this problem was to use as unique password as possible.

– The product doesn’t really do anything with passwords management. Even today that would be the best idea, a unique password is better then using something people can guess (Ex, “password”)… a good example of a password would be “Do08lPwq#cmd190Z” has nothing to do with my life just random typing and would take a while to brute force, only downfall is you would have to remember it.

The recent rise in computer and identity theft places even more emphasis on using secure passwords: No more spouse names, pet names, or birthplaces, as we are more exposed to threads in online world. With each and every new technology comes to protect our files and data hackers make their way to retrieve the password and we are left with nothing and this is the biggest concern of every person using the Computer and internet.

– Not a concern of mine and I use the Internet most every day. But I better change my password M4r13B4rn3yN3vvy0rK because you suggest we don’t use the Spouse, pet, birthplace combo… and that’s not my password for anything if anyone is wondering… BTW I did learn something from this… I have to watch out for the yarn ball my cat chases apparently thread is a threat to us online! – Personally I would be more worried about someone going in my trash, to get information the being able to crack my passwords.

Each time hackers come with a new way to access our private files and data such as they use programs to search our files where we have kept our password for reminder purpose or they attempt to access it by our secret question no matter what is their method to access our files it harms us equally.

– If you have to keep a password written down or in a file to be remembered later… That is just bad practice and you should be hacked just to teach you a lesson.

Here We come with the Safest Algorithm to protect your data from all the possible threats.
Bildsoft Safest 2006 came up with an algorithm which use two passwords to protect your data at best , this algorithm (AES 256) is used by high official such as administration offices and military bureaus in U.S.A.

– I would not say you came up with an algorithm because you did not create AES 256. All you did is put the algorithm into a VB program and have the algorithm use two passwords instead of one. (The program more then likely takes the two passwords and puts them into one anyways) The government may or may not use AES 256 for one or more types of applications but I am sure they don’t use this software. Also one good password will be better then two bad passwords…

Technical Details
Bildsoft Safest 2006 protect password by encryption in the source code, user type two passwords for their file but the software encrypt 4 times the same file with 4 different passwords so no matter if a user write those two passwords somewhere or any irrelevant person got access of those passwords anyhow wouldn’t be able to access the file and data with those user selected passwords so no doubt this is the Safest method to protect your file.
We highly recommend to download full version of Bildsoft Safest 2006 now and experience the safe world.

– I highly recommend you download something that works and is safe…

Thanks,
Ryle

Good point though Belgian Dude comment #23 re backdoors

I'm really shocked at the comments above. Everyone seems to be jumping on the band waggon, slagging off something that is actually quite simple and workable. Have you actually tried it?

I installed it with no problems and tested it out on several documents and it worked like a dream.

Of course I have no 'cracking' software to test on it, I wouldn't even know where to start, nor do I have any use for it because I have no need to encrypt any of my documents or data. However if I was running a buisness, or passing on ideas that I didn't want the competition to see other than the intended client I can see that this is a very simple but effective way of protecting your documents from those that may want to steal your idea's, or gain an edge over you for whatever reason. In a large company with an intranet it could be used to ensure that only those who were trusted or targeted could open it. It may sound laughable, but industrial spying, or espionage isn't a myth. Using only a single password encryption system is much easier to break by a determined thief with the right tools. Why take chances with single password encryption, when applications such as this are available. Of course I'm sure there are far more complex, and expensive solutions as well as freeware solutions however; if the document holds very lucrative information, I'm damned sure I'd want to use something a little harder to crack, or something that by the time it was cracked the information was useless. Multiple password systems have got to be safer, especially if the two passwords are jumbled together with four passes as I think the blurb above states.

Anyone who wants to use such protection isn't going to sneer at having to pay a mere $20 to buy a fully supported package as opposed to this particular giveaway, which we all know is only a way of being able to have a full version for an extended trial period instead of the usuall x number of trials, or y number of days. Let's look at this in perspective people and get a grip. Sheesh.

THE WORST PROGRAM I HAVE EVER GOTTEN!

100% JUNK! Over 4 hrs and still it gives the same error...
I WILL RECOMEND THAT NO ONE DOWNLOADS THIS!

DONT WAIST YOUR TIME AS IT WAS A BIG WAIST OF MINE!

:(

Thanks GAOTD!

Hello all! Today's 15-Minute Review is up! Check it out!

http://www.bladedthoth.com/reviews/15mrs/bildsoft-safest-2006-v1-0-2868-27285/

Would you all stop complaining? It's a free service. Nobody is forcing you to download it, and it takes a whole... what, 20 seconds to see what the days download is? If you don't like it.. move on, come back tomorrow. I personally downloaded AxCrypt, because it's smaller and I can understand the software description. So thankyou to KDF for making a helpful comment, and whoever else suggested an alternative.

Honestly, whining about a handout...

The "developers" may well understand the mathematical application of algorithms for encryption itself, but miss the point of practical application of use/re-use.

It is also evident from their choice of programming (.net), that this is a completely wrong choice for development of this tool. Learn proper coding and methodology. Maybe start with assembler...

As all the reviews here seem to be negative, I probably do not need to make this comment. However, for anyone who might be seriously considering purchasing this product. As mentioned above if you do not have the right to install this product, ie a license, in the future you may not have access to your data. As this product requires an internet connection to be installed, and confirm your right to use it. If this unknown company goes out of business there install server will not exist in the future, preventing you from using it even if you do have a license. Just something to think about in case you hadn't thought of that. :)

$19.99 for a dumb product no good at all

TrueCrypt (which, incidentally is freeware) works better than this.

The person types in 2 passwords.
The "unauthorized person" knows the 2 passwords.

So if the "unauthorized person" can't access the file, how can the person?

Doesn't this leave us in a mess?

Pretty useless - see previous discussions at Effective Password Manager download for free Open Source alternatives.

Don't you think that if it were this easy, then 4 passes would simply be part of the AES algorithm?

The developers of this software clearly have no understanding of modern encryption algorithms. While they say there's "no doubt" that their scheme of serially re-encrypting 4 times is the safest protection, there is in fact no reason to believe this is true -- and it may even diminish the security, depending on the algorithm.

However, to the commenters complaining about .Net, you're equally clueless. While ~30MB download may be a legitimate complaint, there is absolutely no reason that one shouldn't feel comfortable working with security software written for the platform. There's nothing that makes it intrinsically unsafe; on the contrary, (1) because .Net managed code is inherently immune from buffer overrun errors, you don't have to worry about many of the kind of attacks that your web browser, etc., suffer from; and (2) if the developer chooses to use it, the program's components can be digitally signed, preventing other malware from hijacking it as other software is susceptible to.

A single password well conceived is all anyone needs. The average person couldn't crack a basic encrypter, and if it's someone with Federal cracking programs even four times won't matter. I have to agree with others on the stupidity of this program.

kevin (comment number 9) have read and re read your comment .. cheers m8 i now have stomach ache :(

i love the "No free technical support" part... they probably cant access any encrypted help files or have anyone who can actually explain what it does apart from encrypt a file and deny access to it...

and TA (comment 7) whoever it is ticking "good program" are probably stuck for words as to describe it ... i have a few select ones but ill leave them in the gutter ;)

LMFAO ... well worth a visit here today .. thanx again :)

this program is actually good ... for headaches :(:(

what a useless piece of programming .. and such a waste of hard drive space for those who choose to use it :(

the description of it had me in staitches so thanx for the laugh GAOTD

:):):) comments are a luagh too .. thanx folks ;)

think anyone with at least 1 braincell will pass on this one ;)

Sorry GAOTD. 99% of the time you offer reasonably good programs and software. And Im sure your loyal followers will agree that once in a while a completely useless offering comes up. Im afraid todays giveaway from Bildsoft fits into the 1% bracket. I've tried some of their software before, eg Secure DNA, and it caused nothing but problems for me.If anbody wants to protect their files and folders there are plenty of decent free but good programs out there. dirLock 1.04 to lock your files. Kruptos 2 to encrypt them for example. Just Google for them. Thats just my opinion, but Im sure I'm not alone on this one. I'll be back tomorrow. hoping there will be something more sensible on offer. Thanks but no thanks on this one. But as always keep up the great work GAOTD.

Who needs to protect anything from irrelevant people? If they're irrelevant, then they don't matter ("no bearing on or connection"). And who needs commercial software when there's freeware available that does it better? Wouldn't the commercial stuff then become irrelevant?

I have used Kruptos in the past and it worked wonderfully.

I just visited their site in the hopes that I would find some better explanation of what this product should do and how it does it. No luck with that but .... I did find some very interesting information about the developer.

1. They claim to be the Worldwide leader in data protection which will come as a big surprise to not only the competition but also to anyone who has ever been interested in data protection

2. Again, this is a company which seems to be so worried about security that they won't offer any information about themselves whatsoever. Sure, let's trust our sensitive information to a company that is run by who knows who, who knows where and who knows with what agenda, NOT.

3. A security program that depends on .NET.
Are you >expletive deleted< kidding me?

4. AES 256, which is not a bad encryption at all (afterall it was developed by a couple of Belgians) may be used by administration offices and military bureaus in U.S.A but only for US Government non-classified data. Which does give a different slant on things I would think. Especially if you come to the realization that the US Government is not likely to count on products of Bildsoft to keep their data secure.

5. The only way to go, if you want true security, is either buy a product that is from a company with a reputation they can't afford to lose or using an opensource product, so that you can be pretty sure there are no backdoors built in.

@4 This has happened to me a few times if i've downloaded the freebie but then neglected to install it until the next day. The installer "phones home" to make sure that its valid (or something) before it lets you install. Bit of a stupid way of doing it if you ask me, especially if for some reason you cant install it there and then (like being unable to install the software on a work PC with no access to your own machine).

I got some sort of an idea (I think I do :-/) of what this program is suposed to do. But since I was curius, I gave it a try.

Everything went well with the install. But every time that, I tryed to run the program, I got the following error message:

"Could not connect to the internet or offer expired. Details: Unable to connect to the remote server"

So off to GOTD's forums I go...

It apears that www.bildsoft.com's, server is down (it's not looking good). So it wont activate as of yet, mabee later I was told on the forums...

I will post another comment if it ever works or not...

To Be Continued...

Just visited their web site:
All their programs depend on basics which were freely published and were realized in free software very often before (and sometimes realy good - withoud the need of NET framework).

It seems, they need a showroom (GaOTD), advertisment(!), and people for testing(us...)!

NO, THANK YOU!

(german)werwölfchen

I have to admit I'm stumped as to why anyone would want something they couldn't access. I may be wrong in that assumption but from the description this software seems pointless and frankly harmful to the user. Why encrypt to the point where you can't even get your own information? I'm not going to crack about the price because it's free today but the software seems like a dud. Thanks anyway GOTD and I look forward to tomorrow.

NO, THANK YOU: Requires NET-Framework (ca 30 MB...)

- That´s rediculous: build those functions with NET-Framework...

(german)werwölfchen

I will just repeat my earlier remarks to this kind of software in other words.
If you "save" a file, you do that because you want to access it in the future. If you encrypt a file, you save it in a format that requires you two have A) the decryption software and B) the password(s). If you use todays product, you will have to be certain you will A) have access to this software in future and B) know your password(s). A giveawayoftheday application does NOT fulfill requirement A: you must be prepared to buy a licence in future, as you cannot be certain your computer(s) will not need a total rebuild in the foreseeable future.
I can only recommend products like this to encrypt files you send via mail, or store as SECONS copy on a USB-stick or your laptop to carry around with you. But do keep a nonencrypted version in a safe place OR buy a licence. Do that NOW, because you can not be sure you still can buy it in future a relatively small and unknown firm like Bildsoft, that does not provide any clues on its firm on its website.
Note: on http://www.dnzone.com/ShowDetail.asp?NewsId=1880 you can see they do have some free software, too.

I personally use SafeHouse (not free) and TrueCrypt (freeware), though there are many alternatives.

meh.. this is garbage (sorry GAOTD :( Also, could you please put PFConfig up? ><;;;;;;;;;;;; )

i don't think the software is for me. thank you anyway

I run this program on another computer. It works well with no problems. The description given on this page is confusing. If you know the two passwords you will be able to access your files. It encrypts the passwords to keep hackers from running programs that uncover the passwords. I am assuming it works though I have never been hacked.

Quite poinless. Just that you'd have to enter 4 different passwords to decrypt.

I use Axcrypt (freeware) http://www.axantum.com/AxCrypt/
which was previously suggested by some of the GAOTD coments posted previously.

Reject from the CIA, FBI, Homeland Security and the likes. Couldnt carck their own files?

Dumb, Dumb, Dumb and ... Dumb.

It crashed instantly when it could not find an internet connection..

It also takes ages to start up (probably communicating with an internet server) and when it does run, it is very illogical and it says "the file has been protected" when you decryt..

It's an immense file size for something so simple and depends on .NET just to run which is even more absurd!


GAOTD, this is the first thing you have offered which is just stupid and only a fool would pay $19.95 for this junk!

What would I want this for?????????

Sounds like they want to work for the United States Federal Goverment.
Also they have too much time on their hands. This is something that I cannot use. either at work or home. Thanks GAOTD I this I pass on this one. Keep up the good work..

Thanks for the great comments. wonder what the 6 users who marked this as good found in this software, if you found this good, please write a comment on what you found good about this.

I may have missed the point of this software completely.

TIA.

I am not prepared to download this garbage but if there is anyone out there who is perhaps they could tell us what this program actually does. (or doesn't)