e-Capsule Private Safe HD is a great way to keep your data safe, even from those who may have physical access to your computer. Let’s face it, data encryption is crucial to keeping your data secure. If you want to easily and seamlessly encrypt your data, e-Capsule Private Safe HD may be your tool.
Introduction
If you buy a new computer today from Dell, the smallest hard drive you can get is 80GB. Drives up to 250GB are not that much more expensive; over time, huge amounts of data are stored there. The question becomes: how do you protect private information stored on these hard drives? The answer is data encyption.
There are many computer security programs that offer data encryption. One of the most powerful applications is Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), but many who are not technically savvy find Pretty Good Privacy cumbersome and difficult to use. e-Capsule Private Safe HD is an easy-to-use data encryption application that lets you easily protect and manage your files and folders.
Data encryption programs like e-Capsule Private Safe HD are critical, given that so many computers lack basic security functionality. Personal firewalls and other computer security tools are often misconfigured and do not add any additional security.
| Performance | Rating  |
What’s Hot:- Strong encryption is executed quickly
- Quick backup and restore
| Installation & Setup | Rating |
| User Interface | Rating  |
What’s Hot:
- Main user interface is clean [See image 13]
- Toolbar displays icons with shortcuts to useful operations and features [See image 14]
What’s Not:
- Interface could be redesigned to be a bit more intuitive
| Product Features | Rating |
What’s Hot:
Strong data encryption via AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) 256
Ability to back up and restore files
Ability to store E-Capsule file system on both local and remote (Zip, USB) storage media
Login procedure is executed in stealth mode
Multiple levels of access control
Secure file view and edit
| Price to Value | Rating |
$39.95 is a good price for the computer security this product provides.
| Security & Privacy | Rating |
What’s Hot:
- Strong security ensures that the operating system never has access to the files
- Deletes all temp files; no exploitable trace is left of the session
- 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption
- Ability to define up to four levels of functionality (Administrator, Public, Private, and Shred)
- Virtual keyboard
What’s Not:
- e-Capsule File System (EFS) proprietary file system (when the term "proprietary" is used in the same sentence as "security," it is generally cause for concern)
- Calling its proprietary file system "EFS" is confusing, since most people connect EFS with the system-level encryption available in Microsoft Windows
- e-Capsule claims to use "military-level encryption," but there is no such criteria
| Help & Support | Rating |
What’s Hot:
- F1 key brings up help
- Email confirmation of submitted technical support ticket [See image 19]
- Quick response to technical support issues
- Ability to check for software updates via the application [See image 20]
What’s Not:
- F1 help does not provide that much information
- Support hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. central European time, which may be an issue for those on the U.S. West Coast, as the gap in hours may mean support resolution takes longer
- Website does not provide enough technical information.
Images
Suggested Features
- Password recovery feature
- More use of wizards to streamline repetitive tasks
- More intuitive user interface
Conclusion
It’s 2008, and a user's computer security and privacy needs are greater than ever. Tools such as e-Capsule Private Safe HD provide a great layer of data encryption to create a secure desktop. The use of the e-Capsule's encrypted file system can ensure that the files on your laptop, desktop, or remote storage device are seen only by you and those you approve, rather than the prying eyes of your friends, family, or coworkers.
Related Products
PGP, F-Secure Desktop, PKZip, WinZip, Utimaco SafeGuard, GuardianEdge Hard Disk Encryption, Microsoft EFS