LockMyDrive Strong

There are various ways to protect sensitive information. An efficient way is to use specialized software to encrypt it. In this way, no one will have access to your data, unless they know your password. If you do not want to spend time selecting what data to encrypt, you can use LockMyDrive and simply lock an entire disk partition. After a quick registration process, you will only have to click a button and the data on that drive will be hidden.

There is no installation process required. After downloading a 15.6 Mb .exe file, you can run the program right away. It is compatible with most Windows platforms and it is capable of locking hard drives with different files systems or removable devices, like USB flash drives.

Before attempting to lock a drive, you will have to register it. This requires typing an email address, typing and retyping a new password, selecting the drives you wish to protect and agreeing to the terms of service. The designated dialog boxes and options can be found on the software's interface. After registering a device, the software will shut down and you will have to launch it again. The interface will look the same, but instead of the registration options, you will find a large dialog box.

To secure a partition, you only have to click the Lock or the Hide button, next to the dialog box. In a few seconds, all the data on that partition will disappear and you will not be able to find it, even if you set Windows Explorer to show hidden folders. Both options will hide your data, but if you click the Lock button, you will not be able to add new data to the partition.

A partition can be unlocked or unhidden by clicking the same button a second time. Before doing this, you will need to type your password in the large dialog box. The software comes in Strong and Instant editions. The Strong edition uses enhanced encryption protocols and it lets you protect individual folders as well. You can switch from one version to another immediately by clicking a button on the left side of the interface.