folders

As you might expect from its name, this encryption program hides and encrypts important files. It performed well once we applied our administrator settings, but it came with one of the stingiest trial periods we've ever seen.

Lock and Hide Folder has a very basic user interface that proved simple to navigate. Large menu buttons at the top of the window make it easy to add, remove, hide, and show important files. The program uses 256-bit Blowfish encryption to keep your folders safely protected. It's not password-protected when you first access it, so you'll have to go … Read more

DFIncBackup Professional offers users a way to back up their files to prevent losing them forever. While this function appeals to practically all users, the program may not accommodate everyone.

This 30-day free trial is designed to take specific files and folders and back them up onto a ZIP file or an external disk. The first screen can seem intimidating to novice users or those unfamiliar with other backup programs on the market. DFIncBackup Professional has a Project Wizard that walks you through the steps of taking your files and saving them, but it still requires a solid grasp of … Read more

PicaSafe caters to users seeking to enhance their security options. This program's simplicity is its major asset, which users should find inviting.

Encrypting documents and files can be intimidating, but PicaSafe has an easy-to-use program that becomes instantly familiar. By creating a folder and setting a password, anything you place within that folder becomes encrypted. The process is no more difficult than downloading a file to your desktop, and it's just as quick. This is easy security software for users unfamiliar with more complex methods of digital deception. The program also allows you to set up a reminder … Read more

These days, security seems hard to come by. With spyware, hackers, and others all trying to look over your shoulder, sometimes you need a little peace of mind. Personal encryption software is a good step toward protecting your data, and Best Folder Encryption just might fit the bill.

The interface is simplistic and not terribly attractive, but it does have a set of skins to choose from. The fact that you cannot resize the main window is needlessly annoying, though. There are several functions common to this type of app, and they seem to work well. And we like the … Read more

There's a lot to like about this tool that secures folders, but Free Folder Hider turns out to be a name open to interpretation. In the literal sense, it's accurate, since you can hide a single folder for free, but if you want to protect more than one, you'll have to pay up.

Free Folder Hider requires set up of a password for accessing the program, so you're protected from the very beginning. The main user interface offers self-explanatory buttons for adding folders to the private folder list, opening the folders, locking the private folder, and … Read more

FinderPop is a free preference pane that extends the functionality of OS X's contextual menus, helping you more quickly browse, open, move, preview, and get info on folders, files, volumes, and apps using your mouse, in much the same way that other "launcher" apps increase efficiency with keyboard commands. This popular, venerable application has been around since Mac OS 9, and one of its main purposes is to emulate the old Apple Menu Items folder.

At its most basic, FinderPop lets you browse the contents of a folder or volume just by control-clicking on it, while also … Read more

Folder Marker Home is like TiVo, one of those programs that you didn't know you needed until you tried it. It takes folder organization up a few notches by letting you customize your folders for quick, at-a-glance access. We're just not sure it's worth the hefty price tag.

The program has an extremely easy-to-use interface. All you have to do is browse for a specific folder or folders (you can customize multiple folders at once), select from a tabbed-style menu of folder icons, and click the Apply button to instantly apply the changes. The icon menu includes … Read more

Cryptomax WipeData lets users safely and permanently remove files. Because of its trial limitation, we weren't able to try every feature, but it proved to be a capable tool.

The program has a very easy-to-use interface, and a wizard walks you through the deletion process, so you likely won't need any help. Which is good, because none is offered. If you aren't ready to pay for the program, you're only choice is the Normal wipe. The Advanced method has more rewrite options, but requires payment first. With just a few clicks, files and folders were quickly … Read more

For all the wonderful things that OS X does, flipping through folders while opening and saving documents remains a hassle. This award-winning app attaches a toolbar to the side of all your Open and Save dialogs, providing quick access to multiple folders and commands. You can jump to favorite and recently used folders, or even manage files and folders right from the dialog (so you don't need to go to the Finder for simple tasks such as renaming and deleting). Default Folder also lets you assign hot keys and work with recent items right from the Dock. We're … Read more