docLock

If you do not want others to be able to access your data, the best solution is to password protect it. The docLock application does precisely that. With its help you can password protect Word documents, files or folders, and thus prevent others from accessing data that you would much rather remain private. On top of that, docLock can also securely delete files.

The docLock installation file is little over 3MB in size; this means you will not waste a lot of time waiting for the download to complete. The application is compatible with XP, Vista, and Windows 7, so run the installation file, follow the steps presented by the setup wizard, and install docLock on these operating systems.

On docLock’s interface you will see four large buttons associated with docLock’s four functions: Lock a File, Unlock a File, Manage Passwords, Secure Delete. From the Lock a File menu you can password protect a Word Document, any other type of file, or a folder. If you want to, you can create a portable locked file (an executable) or an email-friendly locked file (a ZIP archive). From the Unlock a File menu you can unlock files by using the Add button or by dragging and dropping them onto docLock’s interface.

It is advisable to change your passwords from time to time. Access the Manage Passwords menu and you will uncover that the application can do this for you – it can change the passwords to your locked files.

What do you do with what’s left behind after you lock a file? Deleting it is not a satisfactory answer, not from a security and privacy point of view, and not when data recovery tools can bring files back to life. Securely deleting files is a satisfactory answer – you can securely delete files with the docLock application.

Please note that docLock is only free to try and comes with limited functionality. With the trial version you can not password protect files or folders, just Word documents. The “Generate random password function” does not work in the trial either.

docLock does just what it says and does it quickly: it protects your data by letting you password protect documents, files, and folders, and by securely deleting files for you.