XYplorer is a simple to use file manager which replaces Windows Explorer with several enhanced functions and interface improvements.

Whatsmore, it's completely portable so you can put it on a USB stick and use it wherever you want and whenever you need it. The biggest advantage this program has over Windows Explorer is undoubtabley the Move and Copy dialogues. XYplorer allows you to configure hotkeys to carry out the most common copying and moving operations that you require meaning less mouse movements and faster management of your files and folders. XYplorer also removes the need for multiple folder windows along your taskbar because it employs the use of tabbed file management much in the same way as Firefox does with internet browsing. These tabs are fully customizable too - you can drag them around, rename them, hide them, lock them and much much more. This tabbed feature does give XYplorer a distinct browser style feel especially the featuring of an address bar which accepts not just folders, but also files, URLs, and search terms. This latter function can save hours of time searching through files by allowing you to search directly in XYplorer - without any need to use Windows search tool - simply by placing a "?" between the location and search pattern.

A truly impressive replacement for Windows Explorer - once you've used it you may never go back.

Download XYplorer 7.50.0000 in Softonic

For all those in agreement with the French government that proprietary formats are damaging to the legitimate spread of digital music, then Tunebite will be right up your street. Proprietary music is essentially locked, so it can only be played using a particular brand of player. This software can be used to make any music playable on whatever portable devices you have or to burn your own music CD. It works by creating a playlist in the file’s native player, (Media Player for WMA, iTunes for M4B, M4P) playing the list and recording each track as an unprotected file. It could be seen as the modern equivalent of recording radio onto cassette, although Tunebite will automatically separate the different tracks.

The installation of this program is a bit tongue-in-cheek with a notice to say that you may see a warning during the process, swiftly followed by a pop-up warning letting you know that a particular driver hasn’t been registered with Microsoft. Following the advice of the previous notice and ignoring the warning dialog lets you finish the process. You are then taken to the configuration wizard where you complete six steps to choose what file format you want to record in.

The interface is so intuitive that when you first open the program you should have no doubt as to how to get recording. The three main elements of the interface are clearly marked as the “songs to record” window, the “recorded songs” window and an unmistakable “GO!” button in the centre. To get started you can either drag and drop your music files or use the “add file” or “add folder” buttons within the program. From there, it’s a simple matter of clicking the “GO!” button and letting Tunebite go to work.

Because the files are protected, they must be played through their own player, for example iTunes, and recorded in real-time. During our test, we happened to have another audio player in use as the recording began and as a result, the unprotected file was an incomprehensible mix of two tracks. This also means that if Tunebite is making a recording, you shouldn’t use your computer for other tasks such as browsing the net since every click sound that plays when you hit a link or even the Start Menu button will be recorded as well. With recording taking place in real-time you should plan for times when you won’t be using the computer, especially if you have a large music collection.

Tunebite is a solution to a problem that many music lovers face as control over their digital content becomes tighter and more restrictive. Protected tracks that have been paid for can easily be copied to any MP3 player or burned to CD for use in regular stereos. Admittedly, the method for recording is not ideal for everybody, but used properly, the results will be of the highest standard possible today.

Download Tunebite 5.1.120 in Softonic

Photo Collage is a full featured, easy-to-use application with which you can create beautiful photo compositions in no time. No technical skills required!

The program contains just about anything you need you create the collage – that is, everything except images themselves. The featured material includes background images, frames, clipart, borders and masks, all of them is such a large and colorful variety that you'll find it hard to choose just one. Besides, the program is extraordinarily easy to use: simply drag and drop the different elements of your collage on the interface, resize and rearrange them any way you want with your mouse and you're pretty much done. It's like scrapbooking, but without scissors and glue.

The only drawback I found to this great app is the fact that some frames don’t blend with the background properly, meaning they show a white border around the frame instead of being transparent. Also, I'd like to be able to save my work in other formats (HTML, EXE) rather than just as an image file, but at least I have a few graphic formats to choose from.

Photo Collage enables you to create amazing collages with your digital pictures, but only save them as image files.

Download iFoxSoft Photo Collage 2.06 in Softonic

With more of us keeping sensitive data on our computers than ever before, the need to protect your data from the eyes of unwanted intruders is greater than ever. Of course, there are plenty of applications that allow you to encrypt your private data, but many of them come at a high price. Folder Vault is a relatively cheap alternative that blocks access to files, folders and archives through an interesting interface, which is completely styled around the theme of locking and protection.

Once installed, the program create a default protected folder called Folder Vault, to which any file on your PC can be added. One of the neat features of the software is that it can be run in Stealth mode, to avoid being detected and attacked. There are plenty of cool options locked within the app, such as the ability to auto-shutdown your machine after a designated number of failed password attempts. Handily the program includes a feature whereby once you enter a password, all of the files and folders within your protected folder become unblocked, saving you a lot of time.

I found the program was great for blocking files thanks to its powerful encryption algorithms. However, I was a little disappointed with the Hack Prevention and Automation modes, as these did not seem to work at all when I tried them.

Download Folder Vault 2.0.0.46 in Softonic

PC Security Tweaker is a security tweaking utility you can use to tweak Windows-based computers. It is compatible with all Windows versions and lets you control which users are allowed to access your PC and the level of access each user may have. You can choose to tweak access to lots of Control Panel applet functions, including Display, Network, Passwords, Printers, System, Add/Remove Programs, etc. You can enforce users to use separate system profile folders and provide them with their own custom shell folders such as Desktop, Start Menu, Favorites, My Documents.

Additionally, by tweaking, you can: disable selected Start Menu items, lock and protect disk drives in My Computer, disable the DOS and command prompt, interruption boot keys, real DOS mode, Registry editing, taskbar, task manager, and network access, hide desktop icons, and much more. You can password-protect Windows and restrict users to running specific applications only. Security tweaks can be applied universally or just to specific users. This software also lets you tweak Internet Explorer to secure web browsing.

Download PC Security Tweaker 7.61 in Softonic

Don't be fooled by the name - XP Tools Pro is not just for Windows XP but it's an all round registry tweaker, cleaner and PC optimiser for any system.

Making sure the registry is clean of errors is essential to the smooth running of your machine and XP Tools Pro helps you reach the parts that other optimisers can't. It basically promises to speed up your PC by almost twice as much and while that is a bit far fetched, it does pack a big punch - much more so than the average optimiser. Probably the most powerful component is the "Memory Turbo" element which reuses RAM which isn't being used or is being wasted by Windows. However, although this does make an initial difference, it seems to fight Windows for control of your RAM and you may experience slight freezes or at least a few hang ups from time to time. In addition to optimising and cleaning however, this program also promises to make your machine more secure. Amongst the 20 utilities it offers are options to erase your Internet tracks, hide sensitive files and folders and lock important applications. In this respect, it's actually much more useful as a privacy tool as it covers just about any possible angle where your surfing habits or file usage could be compromised.

Cleaning, privacy and security management, this tool features some highly impressive tools that will be of use to anyone on the move.

Download XP Tools Pro 9.1 in Softonic

Comprising four focus modules (System Cleaner, Privacy Protector, System Maintenance, Special Tools) designed to do everything from cleaning your Registry to removing spyware infestations. Super Utilities is a megamart of system-maintenance tools designed to keep your computer running smoothly.

System Cleaner features a spyware-removal component as well as a handful of tools for cleaning your disk and Registry and for performing routine maintenance tasks. Privacy Protector lets you hide or lock folders, clean your system tracks, password-protect applications that hold sensitive data, quickly and securely delete files, and hide IE Favorites and Start menu items from view.

System Maintenance includes Task Manager-like functions, Internet Explorer customization tools, and valuable system information. Special Tools lets you schedule shutdown times, locate and back up your drivers, identify space-hogging folders, and modify the Super Utilities context menu options.

Download Super Utilities Pro 2008.8.0.1992 in Softonic

Sharing a PC is never a good idea if you've got sensitive or confidential information that you don't want strangers, or even loved ones, to access.

My favourite way to protect myself is simply to create another profile for other users on my system but this is not always possible if Windows isn't working properly. In which case, one good option is to lock those files and folders that you don't want accessed by prying eyes. System Vault simply can't hide files and folders but it can require users to enter a password before accessing them. It also allows you to remove common files or folders that are accessed from your MRU files on your PC so that anyone using your machine, can't see what you've just been looking at.

One word of warning though - if you install the program, uninstall it and then reinstall it again, your protected files are completely reset. This means that anyone that really wants to access your files merely has to uninstall the program so it's a good idea to use some kind of system protection system in addition to this program. However, the developers advise that to avoid losing your directories and files when re-installing the application in future you should export your list of paths and import them again on reinstallation.

A simple way to protect your files but be warned that it's not very secure any anyone who uninstalls it will have access to your files.

Download System Vault 1.16 in Softonic

Easy Desktop Keeper gives you the ability to save, restore, manage and lock your desktop layout that includes files and folders located on your desktop, placement of desktop icons, desired wallpaper and screen saver. If you choose to lock your desktop layout, every time you reboot your PC, the program will restore your desktop icons and bring them back to their original positions as well as return your old wallpaper and screen saver to the background.

You can create an unlimited number of desktop layouts for different purposes such as gaming, working, surfing the Internet as well as provide different users with their own desktops. Easy Desktop Keeper is very easy to use: simply place your icons wherever you want them on your desktop, select desired wallpaper and screen saver, double click program's tray icon and click the Save button to create a new desktop layout file.

If your icons ever get moved or deleted by any user or after entering the safe mode or changing the screen resolution, just open the program and click the Load button to return your desktop to any previously saved state, or simply reboot your PC if you are in the Lock Desktop mode. Many of you, after meticulously arranging all the icons on your desktop, have been frustrated to no end when somebody else or Windows itself randomly re-arranges them.

It is getting more frustrating when you get your icons deleted from your desktop without an ability to recreate them back. System administrators working in educational institutions will realize that Easy Desktop Keeper is just a must for their PC labs because it can be easily used to stop pesky students from changing desktop wallpaper, deleting desktop icons and so on. This easy-to-use utility will give you new exciting abilities to manage and secure your desktop; you'll get rid of a lot of headaches, and get a peace of mind.

Download Easy Desktop Keeper 2.3 in Softonic

The credentials of Flash Crypt are certainly pretty impressive with the developers promising it allows you to "lock any folder on your computer with a couple of mouse clicks with military-grade 256-bit AES algorithm guaranteeing the highest level of data protection."

While there must be a touch of sales talk in there, it's certainly a very secure program. There seems to be very recorded cases of the program being cracked and it feels like a very solid and secure package from the start. If you're not convinced, then checkout the opinion of the US government who say that the encryption method used by Flash Crypt "is sufficient to protect classified information up to TOP SECRET level."

Whatever the strength of the encryption, it's certainly very easy to use which is one of the most important things. It's also ideal for those on the move because you can copy encrypted folders to another disk, flash drive, CD-ROM or by email - without having the program installed on any of the these external mediums - and the data will remain protected. And if you're worried about password loss, FlashCrypt has a special option that lets you save the encrypted password along with the protected data. The developers assure that the asymmetric cryptography used means that not even they are able to crack it, once it's applied.

An extremely powerful product that, if lives up to the hype, is suitable for most sensitive kind of data.

Download FlashCrypt 1.0 beta in Softonic

Encrypt My Information allows you to hide folders and encrypt files with on-the-fly AES encryption. Just create one or more encrypted secure folders from local folders and move your sensitive files into these specified folders and they will be encrypted/decrypted in real-time. You can work with the files as usual, and when you finish, lock the secure folder, which will store the files securely and also hide the entire folder from view.

Download Encrypt My Information 3.091 in Softonic

Hide Folders XP is a simple but ingenious program for Microsoft Windows XP and 2000 users. Every day we trust our personal files to a computer. Who knows how many people will want to get access to them? If you share your computer with co-workers, children, spouse or your computer is always connected to the Internet, your private files are under threat of being revealed.

With Hide Folders XP you can easily protect any number of folders and files on your computer. You can select any file or folder to protect from the program, drag-and-drop them from Windows Explorer into the Hide Folders XP window or just right click mouse button on a file or folder in Explorer and select "Hide & Lock with Hide Folders XP" from the drop-down menu.

Download Hide Folders XP 2.9.2 in Softonic

You may not know this, but your computer is quietly saving all your movements while using it or browsing the Internet. These data remain on your PC as cookies, temporary files, recent document lists and other traces that enable anyone to track back your activity in an easy way.

Luckily enough, now you have Free Window Sweeper. This neat cleaning utility allows you to erase all those traces left on your computer with a single click, protecting your privacy and keeping your movements out from prying eyes. The program can erase traces from many popular web browsers, as well as Microsoft applications and Windows system elements such as the recent document list or the recycle bin. Plus, it enables you to create personal lists with elements you want to be removed, although it doesn't make clear how to configure them.

The removal process is fast, but bear in mind that there's no backup option so you'll have to be careful about what you erase. Free Windows Sweepet also includes some extra nice tools such as cookie manager and an index.dat viewer.

Free Windows Sweeper lets you clean all usage traces and protect your privacy in a very easy way.

Download Free Window Sweeper 1.1 in Softonic

The world has never been the same since the invention of the shredder. Besides allowing you to safeguard the privacy of your important documents and bank statements, shredders are a great way of spending a Sunday mindlessly destroying bits of paper in a cool way. Like all the best inventions, shredders have now found their way to the computer, and Zilla Data Nuker provides a great way to keep your sensitive data from ever being seen by anyone else.

One of the great things about this particular file shredder is that it shreds using five different file deletion standards, giving you information on the best one to use for the particular file or folder you want to erase. These ultra-effective algorithms will ensure that the data you remove stays removed. Despite its power, Data Nuker is remarkably easy to use and comes with a tabbed, skinable interface that lets you erase files with the minimum of hassle via drag-and-drop functionality.

Download Zilla Data Nuker 3.2.0.1 in Softonic

Sometimes you don't want to take risks with folders because what they contain is too sensitive to be left vulnerable to prying eyes. A simple solution to protecting such information is Real Folder Lock which ensures that only you can access certain folders.

The interface is very simple and firstly requires you to set an encryption password that will apply to all documents locked in Real Folder Lock. Within the interface, you can also see which documents have been encrypted for easy access rather than trying to find them on your PC.

The best way to use the program after this is to allow it to integrate into Windows shell during the installation. When you right click on a folder, a "Lock Folder" option will be added to the folder context menu. You simply select this option and the folders are locked until you unlock them again. The locked folder will then appear highlighted indicating that it is locked. When you click on it, you are prompted for the password that you have configured in the program. Note that an extra bonus is that anyone who tries to move or even delete a locked password, will be rejected.

This is a simple program that provides a basic amount of security for your folders. However, it does not appear that the encryption method is particularly sophisticated meaning that it's probably fairly easy to break for a hacker.

Download Real Folder Lock 1.07 in Softonic

Folder Lock is a fast file-security software that can password-protect, lock, hide and encrypt any number of files, folders, drives, pictures and documents in seconds. Protected files are hidden, undeletable, inaccessible and highly secure, it hides files from kids, friends and co-workers, and safeguards them from viruses, trojans, worms and spyware, even protects them from networked PCs or cable users and hackers.

Files can also be protected on USB Flash Drives, Memory Sticks, CD-RW, floppies and notebooks. Protection works even if files are taken from one PC to another on a removable disk, without the need to install any software. It locks files in Windows, DOS and even Safe Modes. Additional Options include Stealth Mode, Hacker Attempt Monitoring, Shred files, AutoLock, Auto Shutdown PC, Lock your PC, Erase PC tracks, 256-bit Blowfish Encryption and Context Menu in Explorer.

Download Folder Lock 5.7.5 in Softonic

HandyCrypto allows you to hide folders and encrypt files with on-the-fly AES encryption. Just create one or more encrypted secure folders from local folders and move your sensitive files into the specified folder and they will be encrypted/decrypted in real-time. You can work with the files as usual, and when you're done, lock the secure folder, which will store the files securely and also hide the entire folder from view.

Additional features include a password-protect interface, supports for FAT/FAT32/NTFS, and protection under Windows Safe Mode. Laptops users will find this tool to be very useful. With HandyCrypto, you will not worry about leak of sensitive business data any longer in case of the computer was stolen. This tool is foolproof, easy-to-use, and self-protected.

Download HandyCrypto 3.1.298 in Softonic

XL Delete is a powerful secure delete tool that will permanently delete files using its powerful wipe engine. XL Delete can permanently remove any type of file, entire folders, and even your Internet Explorer and Firefox cookies, history, and cache files.

Many people believe that emptying the recycle bin will delete a file forever. This is not true, when you delete a file and empty it from the recycle bin, the file is in fact still residing on your hard drive. The only thing that happens when you empty the recycle bin is that Windows marks the area where the file is on the hard drive as overwriteable so that it can reuse the space when necessary.

This allows special data recovery software to be able to actually undelete the file and view all of its original contents. Prevent hackers and identity thieves from going through your deleted files and finding your passwords, credit card numbers, and other information.

When you delete a file with XL Delete, the file data will actually be overwritten several times using specialized methods to prevent data recovery software from being able to undelete the file. XL Delete will also incorporate several obfuscation techniques to hide the original file name and file size from data recovery software.

Benefits of the program:

• Secure delete any file on your PC
• Protect your privacy by making sure files you delete can not be recovered
• Clean the free space on your hard drive
• Clean Internet Explorer and Firefox history, cookies, and temp files
• Prevent identity thieves from retrieving personal information from your computer
• Clean your old PC or laptop before donating or selling them
• Lock extra free space on your hard drive to prevent fragmentation

Download XL Delete 1.7 in Softonic

Hide or password-protect any file instantly by clicking on it. Advanced File Vault works with all file types including pictures and movies. Once a file is locked or hidden, it is completely encrypted and none of its contents can be viewed. To lock a file or folder, simply right-click on it and select the lock option. Extremely easy to use. Online help is also available. This software offers the following features: lock/encrypt/hide any file with a few clicks; easy-to-use user interface; military-grade encryption.

Download Advanced File Vault 1.06 in Softonic

Do you have too many passwords, which expire on different dates, are subject to different rules, or are managed with different tools? This complexity creates problems like forgetting your passwords or writing down, never changing or picking trivial passwords. Secure Password Manager is the right solution. It is a desktop utility that spares you the trouble of filling in your logins, passwords, and other personal data manually.

You can store and track names, passwords, credit cards, software serial numbers and confidential notes in an encrypted form securely and easily. You can automatically fill in data in any application (IE, Netscape, Opera, ICQ, MSN...). This application uses industrial strength 256-bit AES/ Rijndael/ Blowfish encryption to keep your passwords secure.

It is well designed to let you store and track names, passwords, credit cards, software serial numbers and confidential notes in an encrypted form securely and easily. It can automatically fill login information for you. Features include password generator, backup options, auto complete sequence editor, lock, windows clipboard support, and clipboard clearing. You can organize your information into custom folders and categories, copy usernames and passwords to the clipboard and search for specific entries.

Download Secure Password Manager 2.2.3 in Softonic