Various methods of file encryption are available to protect files against these kinds of direct assaults.

To help decide whether file encryption is for you, it is useful to know some basic information about the technology, its limitations and how to spot products that may contain weaknesses.

Microsoft added file encryption last year with BitLocker features in its Windows Vista operating system.

Both of the software publishers said they ship their operating systems with the file encryption turned off.

Providers can choose to make content available with no protection at all, or adopt transport encryption, file encryption, device authentication, or digital rights management (DRM).

GpgEX: a plugin for Windows Explorer (file encryption).

Peazip supports file encryption and file name encryption, although only in certain types of archives, including its own Pea format, 7-zip, zip and Arc.

The FSA team also oversaw the creation of a number of other technologies that were leading edge at the time, including firewall, file encryption, and public key infrastructure product lines.

The Encrypting File System (EFS) introduced strong file system-level encryption to Windows.

The fastest file encryption is offered by a software called Folder Lock.