[Saxon]

I downloaded this program and installed it, and almost immediately I got a BSOD from which my system could not recover. Everytime I tried to boot up my computer and log on I got the same BSOD. Don't ask me what the error was as I was too gobsmacked to care, luckily I had made a disk image with Acronis Trueimage two days earlier so I could easily restore my system. I am just telling everyone this in case you may be about to install this program and warn you not to do so. Here is the link so you can identify it positively.

www.newsoftwares.net/folderlock

[blues_harp28]

Hi..Thanks for the warning..and the reminder of having a ( get out of jail free card) back up for our system..

[mike5532g]

I tried that program earlier this year and had no problems with it. Perhaps that particular version has some flaws, I don't remember which one I tried.

Thanks for the heads up.

[SIR****TMG]

Thanks for the warning...................

[Tomhubba]

Immediately after installing Folder Lock 5.2.4. and also 5.2.5, I began receiving Q293078 device driver msgs. in XP. Programs opened without selecting them and my comp continually rebooted by itself. I emailed Folder Lock
Tech Support, and received no replys, although their site says "you'll be amazed how fast we answer". I was truly amazed. They are aware of their problem and choose to ignore it. By the way Folder Lock is offering $25.00 worth of free software to anyone rating their software 5 star.
Now THATS amazing! I am in the process of trying to get a refund. Buyer Beware!

[Alan18]

Thanks for the heads up!

[jiml8]

As a developer, I have to comment.

I have no experience with the particular product, but the idea that they would put out a product that gives BSODs is probably absurd.

Now, if you install my software and you have the Klez virus, the installation of my package will render your system unbootable. If you install my package on a corrupted file system (extremely common problem in Windows) then you will get unpredictable results.

I can't do anything about it. My package installs fine and works fine on all systems that are themselves properly maintained and in good condition, but I have no idea at all what will happen when you just try to slap it onto an already hosed system - and my package operates in Windows at a very high level, pretty much the top of the OS, which means that its dependence on proper system operation is less than that of many other things.

Folder Lock operates in Windows at a lower level, and one would expect therefore that it would have more extensive requirements for cleanliness of the system than my package has since it hooks in more deeply.

My point is this. In the vast, vast majority of cases where a software install goes badly wrong, it happens because there was something wrong with the system in the first place that the software package couldn't cope with. This is not always true; I personally have encountered seriously defective software from the vendor, and it does occasionally happen.

But not usually.

Before installing a new software package, you should run chkdsk on the system to ensure the file system is cleaned up, and you should also make sure that the system is free of spyware, viruses, trojans etc because any of those things can interfere with the installation in a fashion that the software developer cannot predict and cannot guard against.

[lucretius]

Folder lock is neither secure nor portable.

First, about security (then maybe no point reading bey0nd that):

Folder Lock can be bypassed by:
1/ locate the folder it is locking
2/ copy the locked folder to another directory
3/ install Folder Lock (again) in the new dir.
4/ set password
5/ open the copy of the original locked folder.

Now about portability (if you're still interested):

When attempting to launch Folder Lock from the USB key on a computer other than the one where Folder Lock was installed, I get the following message: Component 'vaultskn.ocx' or one of its dependencies not correctly registered: a file is missing or invalid. I moved the program to the USB key via running the Folder Lock program. The problem is that it will not run properly from the USB key on a locked down user account -- which is a necessary requirement around here (do many people normally work with admin rights turned on, if so, this is dangerous). I purchased the program so I could lock files on a USB key. But the program will not work properly from another computer for which I have no admin rights. It will not even work right from the USB key on a locked down user account on a computer where the 'vaultskn.ocx' was registered (via an admin account - in this case the program keeps asking for a new password: can't remember the original one and it won't terminate properly).

Been asking for a refund but no luck so far. BUYER BEWARE!

[eyes_open_00]

The program documentation clearly states that locking folders other than the locker is a rudimentary form of protection that does not secure the folders from DOS or other indirect types of access. File Lock is not easy to defeat if you store your files in the locker as recommended by the program author.

The locker directory is hidden from the operating system and cannot be copied. Copying the parent folder does not copy the locker (if the locker is in locked mode). You can only unlock the locker by running File Lock from the disk that contains the locker. So installing FL on another drive to reset the password won't work.

I can't comment on portable locking because I haven't tried it. I am having a problem at the moment with the ctrl-alt-F startup sequence not working in stealth mode. I'm going to contact customer support to see what they say. Other than that, the product seems to work as advertised on my system.

[lucretius]

Originally Posted by eyes_open_00

The program documentation clearly states that locking folders other than the locker is a rudimentary form of protection that does not secure the folders from DOS or other indirect types of access. File Lock is not easy to defeat if you store your files in the locker as recommended by the program author.

The locker directory is hidden from the operating system and cannot be copied. Copying the parent folder does not copy the locker (if the locker is in locked mode). You can only unlock the locker by running File Lock from the disk that contains the locker. So installing FL on another drive to reset the password won't work.

I can't comment on portable locking because I haven't tried it. I am having a problem at the moment with the ctrl-alt-F startup sequence not working in stealth mode. I'm going to contact customer support to see what they say. Other than that, the product seems to work as advertised on my system.

I'll try to recreate the sequence for unlocking folders without the original password this weekend. I think it can be done without moving folders (just uninstalling and reinstalling the program). I originally tested this for use with a USB key, so I don't know about folders on the harddrive.

As for portability, administrative rights are required in order to register the 'vaultskn.ocx' file and this has been confirmed with the vendor. This alone makes it non-portable but even so, I'm not convinced that anything less than a full install of the program on the recipient machine will do.

[eyes_open_00]

When FL is locked, it can't be uninstalled. But if you do manage to find a security flaw, I would certainly love to hear about it. So far, it seems okay on my system.

I did get the ctrl-alt-F sequence to work. Just needed to reboot after installation.

[lucretius]

Originally Posted by eyes_open_00

When FL is locked, it can't be uninstalled. But if you do manage to find a security flaw, I would certainly love to hear about it. So far, it seems okay on my system.

I did get the ctrl-alt-F sequence to work. Just needed to reboot after installation.

First, Folder Lock can be uninstalled if the vault is located on a USB key. Second, it's not a matter of discovering a flaw -- I've already came upon it (really by accident, when I was trying to get it to work on my USB key). As I said before, I have to look at it on the weekend again, since I don't remember all the details now. Even if the program were not flawed, certainly there are better alternatives including Cryptainer and Truecrypt, both free.

[valis]

FWIW, I installed it this am, and have had zero issues to date....however, now I am considering uninstalling it....but we'll see....hasn't crashed the sys yet, and i've used it a few times and rebooted twice, just to test it....

[Fizban]

I tried the pesky little sucker and almost immediately I got BSOD. This app is a piece of crap.

Jiml8 I understand you're point and see where you're coming from, but I have to say when it comes to system maintenance I'm an obsessive. Not a day goes by without me running chkdsk, defrag or whatever, I know my system won't be perfect but its more stable than most and it still got screwed up.

[limchoonhong]

Hi, I'm not writing to criticize FolderLock. In fact, I'm a registered user.

I think FolderLock is not intendly to cause BSOD, bad sector of disk rite? If I'm not mistaken. I think it's one of its technique to protect the files from being accessed in Windows, DOS and other OS (Linux).

Anyway, I discovered several ways to break through FolderLock to get the files hidden/or protected. Just want to share with all of you.

I have tried many times to inform the developer about that. Since version 5.2.0 till now they haven't fix up the leak.

You can use NC (Norton Commander) for DOS to access the FolderLock Locked Folder. Browse your Locked Folder by using nc.exe and you can see everything there! You can copy, delete, move, etc. from there!

Funny rite..