 The
process of encrypting and decrypting with Cryptext is so easy that we
have left the program installed, our fear quite gone!
After the quick installation we made a few copies of
files to try the application out with (never experiment with anything
you are not prepared to lose - with a copy, it does not matter what
happens)
The application produces a window asking for a
password, to be entered twice , to be used for encryption. Do make sure
you either use a password you can always remember or write it down and
keep it somewhere safe. A good way of making up passwords that are easy
for you to remember and hard for others to guess may be to use 'firsts'.
Who was the first friend you ever made at school? (or
at least the first one you remember having made!). Where were you, the
first time you saw your partner? Using this system, you can make a note
of the question, rather than writing down the password.
Another system that works is to find two people with something in
common. What do grandma and my best friend have in common? Curry. They
both love curry. Simple but effective! You can change passwords as often
as you like.
 Right
click on any file, or on any folder, if you want all of the files within
it to be individually encrypted, and a window will appear asking for the
password.
As soon as you have entered it, the usual file icon
will vanish and be replaced by the lock and key icon.
How useful to be able to threaten to encrypt the .exe
file to a naughty child's favourite computer game unless he/she finishes
homework/does chores or apologises to a sibling for unkindness. This is
probably a highly politically incorrect suggestion but that is
absolutely fine with us. Your children will thank you for teaching them
the simple rules of give and take. Don't worry, they will not be able to
do the same to you. The only way to change the password is to give
Cryptext the old password first!
  If
you attempt to encrypt a file with the wrong password, an error message
will appear.
If you attempt to decrypt the file with the wrong password another
error message will appear.
 If
you try to open the file by double-clicking on it, as though it were an
unencrypted file, the Open With box will appear.
 A rather nice idea would be to work on an elaborate
drawing or card for a family member (to celebrate a birthday, perhaps,
or other special date, or just for fun) keeping the file encrypted to
stop the intended recipient reciving it ahead of time. When the right
day comes, you put the encrypted file in the middle of the desktop, tell
the intended recipient the password and let them go and open their
encrypted card/picture.
You can toss encrypted files into the Recycle Bin and
they will disappear with the rest of the rubbish when you empty it.
|
This
is all the interface there is to see of Cryptext - two entries in the
second segment of the right-click pop-up menu.
