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Protected Folder 1.2 Giveaway
$19.95
EXPIRED

Giveaway of the day — Protected Folder 1.2

Protected Folder is designed to protect your files and folders with a password.
$19.95 EXPIRED
User rating: 95 34 comments

Protected Folder 1.2 was available as a giveaway on July 28, 2015!

Today Giveaway of the Day
$39.99
free today
Uninstall programs without leftovers!

Protected Folder is designed to protect your files and folders with a password, so they can not be seen, read or modified by others. If you are concerned with privacy, data theft, data loss, or data leaks, Protected Folder is an ideal tool for you.

Please note: The software includes a 6-months license.

System Requirements:

Windows 2000/ XP/ Vista/ 7/ 8/ 8.1

Publisher:

iObit

Homepage:

http://www.iobit.com/en/password-protected-folder.php

File Size:

10.3 MB

Price:

$19.95

GIVEAWAY download basket

Log in to your system and web browsers using fingerprint management.
Developed by Kaspersky Lab
The standard anti-malware solution for Windows.
Recover lost or forgotten passwords for RAR files.

Comments on Protected Folder 1.2

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Please add a comment explaining the reason behind your vote.
#15

I conducted an experiment (briefly describe):
I created on a flash drive

"Folder-01" which has created two folders "folder-01-01" and "01-02-folder"

The folder "folder-01-02" put test text file that says that is located in the folder that are tailored using the Protected Folder 1.2, closed access, looked folder properties "folder-01" - its size is equal to zero, and And he made in the image using img "PowerISO", and IMG - proved that it can be opened using the archiver and drew everything.

Seeing the folder structure:
"Folder-01" in which there are two folders "folder-01-01" and "01-02-folder" folder in the "folder-01-02" found the desired file with the Hidden attribute.

And the program "AnvideLockFolder" - behaves tricky is when something next time tell either me or my friend.
// Translated from Russian

Reply   |   Comment by znatok  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+1)
#14

Yawn ... %~

This is (as has been stated) an oversaturated market with a dubious need in the first place. (IMHO) Why a developer would waste time bringing a product like this to the market and expect to get paid $19.95 for a 6-month license is totally beyond me. Especially so as I cannot for the life of me see anything new or different from the rest of the crowd.

IOBit has been a pretty good company with decent software 'till now. Previous offerings here have been quite good. Maybe to owner's kid wrote this software for their high school class ??

With nothing new to offer, I am afraid it has no reason to populate my HD and so I uninstalled. Pity.

Reply   |   Comment by Paul B.  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#13

The one thing to keep in mind with such software, whether for individual folders, your entire computer, or data transmission, is that the US government has "strongly requested" (in other words, voluntarily comply or we will make it law) all such programs contain a backdoor "for security reasons".

This is akin to installing top line locks in your home then having to give copies of the keys to city hall, where they will be kept in an unlocked drawer.

Reply   |   Comment by JGF  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+2)
#12

Not totally secure. i tried some similar locker and i'd discovered the weakness. don't rely on locker. Mike4 is right.

Reply   |   Comment by la  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+3)
#11

BTW, in a previous Giveawayoftheday offer, I used a program called Soft Organizer that seems to work properly at tracing all OS changes when installing programs. It then uninstalls all traces of a program after uninstall a program.

Reply   |   Comment by Phillip Lipton  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+1)
#10

@ bart & Karl

"When Karl says, “Uninstalled via reboot” You have to understand that Karl NEVER installs any such software on his machine, but rather works on a virtual machine, that he works only on RAM only the download file resides on his hard drive."

So how do I set up my 8.1 laptop to run a virtual machine ?

Reply   |   Comment by Phillip Lipton  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+1)

Philip,

Sorry to be answering so late. Other stuff to do. But here it is.

If you read through all the comments, you may have noticed that krypteller in comment comment 2 (the last subcomment) wrote about both VirtualBox and Toolwiz's TimeFreeze. Virtual box is now owned by Oracle, but is a free software for private users and small enterprises. Just google it and TimeFreeze to get more information.

This is neither the time or place to get into a lengthy discussion about this excellent method of protecting one's computer, since the conversation could quickly get very technical. There are plenty of other places where you can find the help necessary from people who already use such software and are more than ready to help you should you ask them.

Reply   |   Comment by bart  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+2)
#9

This is what I do not like about this and any other encryption software:

Six months or six years must be eliminated, time goes by fast and you may lose your files forever should the company goes out of business;

The encryption software must be portable and or self extracting and to be able to decrypt any file without installation on a different PC.

The software should not create temporary files of the already encrypted files when the files are accessed on any drive if you want to preserve the privacy of the files.

This software failed at all of the above.

Reply   |   Comment by Mike4  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+8)
#8

Bettie Page (I wish...) Karl creates a "fake PC, machine out of RAM memory" and installs everything there - in RAM memory as if it were real.

When he reboots, the memory (RAM) doesn't remember anything (like when you reboot) , and that's how he "uninstalls by Reboot"

Hope this helps

Reply   |   Comment by David Roper  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+10)

David, its not much of a fake PC, but more of maybe a Windows 7/8/8.1 PE SE, one that boots from an ISO, Disk or USB, then stores the files in the ram that the windows 7/8/8.1 pe se needs to run, so its not a fake pc/OS its just being run from ram, after fiddling around with Windows 7 PE SE it seems windows only need 468MB Ram to run at an OK speed, launching any internet browser sends it up to 846mb ram. I use Ram Machines (as I call them) all the time for testing apps, viruses, many other things.

Reply   |   Comment by VerizonHD  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-1)
#7

Safe files are those which are kept on a computer not connected to the Internet (even then NSA can penetrate and read your "sensitive laundry" by scanning the write imprint on the materials within your computer). Using gap safe procedures eliminate the need for folder protectors to the extent that unknown hackers from unknown places can/might/will hack your data via the Net/Wi-fi. This is a lesson big corps and the US fed.gov have yet to learn.
Simply using well founded encryption programs can stop those who gain physical access to your disconnected files without permission. Even encryption won't stop a determined hacker/hacker group who gains access (by the Internet or otherwise). Doubtful a folder lock will have any defensive affect. Like door keys, this kind of program only keeps honest people honest. Avoid the others . . .
If your computers are at work, then everything on your computer belongs to your boss and his company. Now its his problem. ©2015

Reply   |   Comment by DoktorThomas™  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#6

Originally launched by iObit as freeware, 'Protected Folder' is -- self-evidently -- a Windows app which protects, er, folders when your computer's Windows OS loads up fully on start-up. Equally self-evident, therefore, is what happens when your Windows OS doesn't load up fully on start-up: 'Protected Folder' then protects nothing at all.

There's a delicious irony about that: software sold on the basis that it'll always keep your files safe, being instantly defeated by Windows' Safe mode.

But failing to protect your files and folders is only one of the curiosities here. Failing to protect your wallet is another. As noted earlier, 'Protected Folder' began life as freeware, but then iObit began charging for it. After that though, iObit hit on the idea of making 'Protected Folder' the cash cow that it is today: by making it available only on a rental basis, not a purchase basis. In other words: by hooking the punter into a deal whereby he or she stumps up money every year to iObit for something which, of course, doesn't change every year and which requires not a centsworth of developer time, or developer investment, in that period.

iObit, which isn't backwards in coming forwards when there's a good idea to copy, adopted this practice from the AV sector, where specialist outfits spend a fortune on researching and updating virus definitions every day of the week. The overhead there is so expensive that even Malwarebytes has had to switch to annual licensing so as to help recover the costs incurred in the maintenance of its anti-malware product.

iObit doesn't do anything with, or to, 'Protected Folder' month by month, never mind day by day, but sits back and waits for the $money to roll in, knowing that computer users are as fallible as anyone else and so a dependable percentage of the 'Protected Folder' user base will forget the password during the course of the year and, come renewal time, will then stump up the renewal charge just to keep the software running so they can continue to access their own 'hidden' files.

No blame attaches to iObit for this. Like anyone, anywhere, it is free to choose whether or not to test the truth of the old adage that though you can't fool all of the people, all of the time, you can certainly have a go at fooling some of the people, some of the time. If people are, therefore, idiotic enough to rent -- not buy -- to rent a piece of easily defeated 'protective' software, then that's their own fault. Not iObit's.

There is, of course, no reason to pay for any software which keeps your computer's contents safely out of view only until your computer is started in Safe Mode.

Rival developer Wise has been locked in battle with iObit for many a year, and though it charges for its utilities suite in the same way iObit does, it offers its Wise Folder Hider entirely free. There is no difference between iObit's 'Protected Folder' and Wise's 'Hide Folder': both do the same thing; both function properly only if Windows fully loads on start-up; both can be instantly defeated by even the most inexpert snooper of your computer.

Ultimately though, this kind of makes-it-invisible software is barely one step up from doing it yourself and using Windows' own provision to 'hide' whatever file you like, something that's probably sufficient for any user who seeks only a temporary solution, albeit one which is easily reversed by anyone who knows how to simply alter Windows' hide/unhide file attributes.

Impossible, then, to recommend today's giveaway even as a download. Not only is this not a purchasable product in the sense of being able to be acquired on a permanent basis in exchange for a single cash payment, it's a rental which, today, is being offered with just six months' free usage.

If that strikes you as a bargain, then by all means go ahead and grab it. If it doesn't, and you really do wish to make a serious attempt to protect sensitive files, sensitive data, then it's a simple job to hop over to YouTube and watch the little demo videos on how to use VeraCrypt / how to use Safehouse, two freeware offerings which trounce anything from iObit or Wise.

Thanks, then, GOTD, but no thanks. Feeding the cash cow that is iObit's rentalware 'Protected Folder' has never made any sense. Offering it here on GOTD on a mere 6-month rental simply confirms that.

Reply   |   Comment by MikeR  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+81)

@ MikeR. Thanks for your excellent comment. Can someone who's installed iObit’s ‘Protected Folder’ and decided they don't want to keep it, COMPLETELY uninstall it by doing a REBOOT as in comment 2 (Karl) (If so, please explain how), or only COMPLETELY remove it by doing a SYSTEM RESTORE shortly after installing and testing it? Thanks...:)

Reply   |   Comment by BettiePage9000  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-10)

BettiePage9000,

Read my answer to to Valerie Ann in comment 2 above. It explains how Karl does his, "Uninstalled via reboot," magic.

Please note that Karl also says, "Remember, your file is as long “locked” or “invisible” as this programs service runs. If you boot from another system or in safe mode, all files/folders are visible and accessible."

If I understand this correctly, if I were to lock a file on external storage and then took that storage medium to another computer, the file would be there in all its unlocked glory, absolutely not protected at all!

Isn't that a kicker?

As others have said before me, best stay away from what is nothing more than a robber baron. Your best bet is to simply either usse something like VeraCrypt mentioned by MikeR or simply to archive the file, encrypt it and then password-protect it. I suggest you follow Mike's advice and look at the YouTube video on VeraCrypt. The young lady who made it shows you that the program really works.

Reply   |   Comment by bart  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+25)

Thanks so much for your recommendations as well as your clear and comprehensive explanation!

Reply   |   Comment by Jack  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+10)
#5

Thanks gpc111, for listing the free alternative software! That's a big help! Especially since this software giveaway is only a 6 month license!
Who would use a locking folder software for only 6 months? That's crazy! I mean, I know that the company wants you to try it for 6 months, before considering purchasing it, but with the free alternatives out there! Why bother?
That's what gets me about some of these free software giveaways!?! With all of the free software alternatives out there, it must be awful hard for a company, to get someone to purchase their software, even after a free trial! The only type of software in my opinion that is a must to purchase, is security software! Like antivirus, antimalware and antispyware software! In my short 13 year experience with computers, I found that paid security software is a must in todays computer market age!

Reply   |   Comment by Bill B.  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+15)
#4

Subscription based software is the future of the software market. Personally I am a traditionalist and believe in pay once own it forever. If I'm correct after the Antivirus Mafia, Adobe was the next to follow in their line with Creative Cloud, then Autodesk and small one man bands like today's giveaway.

Considering all, a 6 month license is rather short. So, thanks a bunch, but I look elsewhere for Open Source alternatives.

Reply   |   Comment by xenox  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+54)

I agree. Given the choice I would always prefer to buy the program for a one time fee, as opposed to being on subscription basis where the full cost is never know and will generally exceed the one time buy price. Software companies should always allow the USERS the choice of Sub Based or Buy It Once options, even if the Buy It Once does not include updates. I have some programs that, while paid for, only allow updates within the Same Major Version Number .. when it goes from say a V3 to a V4, then I need to pay a small update fee or not do the update.

Reply   |   Comment by Bruce  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+26)

iObit is anything but "small one-man bands like today's giveaway". Rather, it's a major developer which hit on the idea of making rentalware out of something which requires no updating nor maintenance by the developer. You might just as well carpet your living room. . . but then pay the carpet manufacturer a fee every month for the right to keep walking on it. I doubt any 'one-man band' in the software world would have the nerve to try that on.

Reply   |   Comment by MikeR  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+33)

I've not downloaded anything off GOTD for a long time. Since G left. I come there to read about "alternatives" and when I wipe a machine, to see if any of my favorite dozen or so video rippers/converters are back.

Reply   |   Comment by tc1uscg  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+12)

I agree 6 months?? I thank Karl for his reviews,even though I do not understand all of them all the time. I miss G for the alternatives he gave me.

Reply   |   Comment by PT  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+15)

I thoroughly agree. Most of my graphics and audio work is done on programs several years old because the new versions are cloud based ... you never own it, just lease it in perpetuity. Let's hope software developers never become real estate developers.

Reply   |   Comment by JGF  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+1)
#3

I am not a fan of time limited software but I appreciate the offer and the effort that went into posting this give away. Here are some free alternatives if you miss out on this....

http://www.downloadcrew.com/article/27412-wise_folder_hider

http://www.downloadcrew.com/article/33344-secure_folders

http://www.downloadcrew.com/article/26409-my_lockbox_free

Reply   |   Comment by gpc111  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+54)
#2

Installed and registered without problems on a Win 8.1.3 Pro 64 bit system. The last time I hope... A clean install with one service.

A company without name and address, known for the IOBIT system care.
"Founded in 2004, IObit provides consumers with innovative system utilities and security software for superior PC performance and security. With more than 100 awards and 200 million downloads worldwide, IObit is a recognized industry leader in PC optimization and security software."

And a legal notice without a legal contact partner:
"Both Talent International Limited ("IObit") provides information and products on this website, subject to the following terms and conditions. By accessing this site, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions."
http://www.iobit.com/en/legal.php

We had had this software in version 1.2 on December 17, 2013. Here are the old reviews:
http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/protected-folder-1-2/

Still a six month license...
The software includes a 6-months license.

Upon start you enter your password, in the option you can change language from Hebrew, Swedish to Vietnames, define the slider option and start.
Is this a new version?
http://i.imgur.com/IRefExP.png

For a short test I wanted to lock the downloaded zip file of this GOTD:
http://i.imgur.com/Iqji0ss.png

The second test with another file succeeded. Remember, your file is as long "locked" or "invisible" as this programs service runs. If you boot from another system or in safe mode, all files/folders are visible and accessible. Be aware of this. It works as long and good, as the actual system is running. This is surely sufficient for most users.

Uninstalled via reboot.

Reply   |   Comment by Karl  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+79)

Didn't you mean 'Uninstalled by System Restore'?
I am in favor of doing a system restore to get rid of a newly installed program you decide you don't want. Using Windows Remove Program uses a program's own uninstall program which always leaves behind a ton of files and registry items which not only clog up and slow down computers, but could also contain things like hidden key logger programs to record, compile and send your identity and financial information if you enter your credit card number even once, to purchase something directly from a website via your computer keyboard, and thereby be able to steal from your account(s), and/or use or sell that information to 'who knows' for identity theft in order to purchase a home car or whatever, with a loan from a bank, etc.

Even RevoUninstaller, which easily enables you to delete MOST of the thousands of registry entries and files left by most program's own uninstall programs, still leaves SOME more hidden things behind. It does not get absolutely everything. Therefore, immediate testing of any newly installed program is imperative so the option will still be easily available to do a system restore without having to lose other recently installed software in the process, and hopefully before any virus hidden in it can infect your computer.

I would suspect the kind of poorly written - with bugs program, or inferior professional version program where there are better freeware programs available, wouldn't make sense to offer unless it is ONLY to supply hidden key logger programs to recognise and collect credit card numbers and their security codes plus identity theft info, name, address, etc. and then send it at some point whenever you are online, would be the only reason to offer such kind of programs for free for one day, so I look for techs comments who actually try out the program and deliver an honest review before installing.

Having said that, I WOULD like to know if there is also a way to completely uninstall a newly installed program via REBOOT. If so, please reply back and explain how or leave a comment at least with a link to an explanation of how to COMPLETELY uninstall a newly installed program VIA REBOOT. Thanks for your otherwise very sharp and helpful comment!

Reply   |   Comment by Valerie Ann  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-47)

Valerie Ann,

When Karl says, "Uninstalled via reboot" You have to understand that Karl NEVER installs any such software on his machine, but rather works on a virtual machine, that he works only on RAM only the download file resides on his hard drive.

When he is finished evaluating the software, he simply reboots his computer and the software is gone into that great big bucket in the sky. Hence, "Uninstalled via reboot." Please be aware that that is the prudent way for software testers to evaluate software for review purposes.

Reply   |   Comment by bart  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+65)

I did install the GOTD-software in a real Windows. And uninstall every day the new software. And clean up Windows . . .
Until that laptop stopped working; dead.
After becoming a new laptop with more power and more memory I have installed Virtual Box.
And installed there several Windows-versions(WinXP-32, Win7-64, Win8.1-64 and Win10-64).
And from all Windows I made a back-up/copy.

To test a GOTD-program I start a virtual Windows of my choice, activate a kind of Freeze program and install the program to test.
The Freeze program, in my case Wondershare TimeFreeze given by GOTD, protect the working Windows against all changes made by the installed program.
After reboot Windows is as it was before.

Downside: you have to be alert what to do. I have installed updates of anti-virus, Windows, Flashplayer etc. while Timefreeze was ON.
After reboot I could perform every update again.

But I have noticed that some recoveryprograms could find something, that was made while Timefreeze was on. So in my opinion it isn't 100% safe.
Therefore I have copies; when needed I delete a Windows installation, make a copy of the backup and start again. This takes about 10-15 minutes.

Reply   |   Comment by Ootje  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+26)

Ootje,

Thank you for that explanation. I will get Virtual Box and Timefreeze.

Reply   |   Comment by bart  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+12)

Valerie Ann: Do you believe in conspiracy theory too. You seem to be acutely paranoid about uninstalling unwanted software.

Reply   |   Comment by GT  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-23)

Why do people Down Vote innocent questions from Newbies about "Uninstalled via Reboot" (Karl's signature verdict) ?
Comment by Valerie Ann — In Reply to #2 (-46)
Comment by BettiePage9000 — In Reply to #6 (-12)
Isn't this a form of bullying or hazing of newcomers to this forum? They should be rather welcomed instead.
These questions do pop up every now and then and thanks to the compassionate ones who take time to reply to explain and enlighten them (bart, Ootje, David Roper and others that did in the past).
I suggest to Karl to add a Link/Reference to his signature conclusion "Uninstalled via Reboot" where the neophytes/novices can go and find all the explanations to quench their thirst for knowledge.

Please spare us the ugly e-lapidation of recurring innocent questions: Why downvote them? just stay neutral instead or better, help out and explain.

Reply   |   Comment by =Peanuts=  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+20)

Hey Karl,

Sidebar question.... I use Deep Freeze after seeing you mention it in one of your reviews. I really like the concept and it works great but I have a couple questions. How do you accommodate antivirus updates when every time you reboot, it sets you back (program version, database, etc.) to the time you first booted up "frozen?" I get around that now by booting thawed and updating and running my antivirus software, then rebooting frozen but that is a cumbersome and time-consuming process. I have all my antivirus programs on my boot drive and even if I tried to install them on one of my other physical drives, the software might still leave pieces of itself on the boot drive and thus cause problems with each reboot. I'd also be concerned that malware could infect an antivirus program itself. If you use Deep Freeze or a similar program, how do you work with this?

Thanks!

Kent S.

Reply   |   Comment by Kent S.  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+3)
#1

This is a 6 month's license. Now let us say, you like this software and have locked away tonnes of very important data using it into the "protected folder".
7 months later you are in trouble. Suddenly you have no access to your very important data.
There are freeware versions of the same genre. Use your common sense when deciding whether to use such for the prescribed purpose.

Reply   |   Comment by ric  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+143)

You should always have a backup copy off the computer of any file that is in the protected folder.

Reply   |   Comment by Brian  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-34)

Simple, have a "backup plan". As Mr G would say, this is a OVERSATURATED market. I have been using Axcrypt http://www.axantum.com/axcrypt/ for years. It's portable, the receiving end doesn't have to have the program to unlock a file sent to them (just need to let them know the password for that file), it's opensource and it's free. Lots of free good stuff out there but this is my goto and I really enjoy the ability to load up a USB with portable util's and have them at my ready. This is one of them.

Reply   |   Comment by tc1uscg  –  8 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+33)
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