SFX Creator

Note: The application may trigger antimalware alerts but our tests have shown that these are false positives, so it's safe to download and install SFX Creator.

When sharing files over the web, it's a good idea to have them protected with a password, or at least archived so that no malicious programs can corrupt them. In this regard, SFX Creator comes as a simple, but powerful utility with which to add an extra layer of protection over any kind of file using one of several popular encryption algorithms.

Running the application brings up a pretty compact window, with features accompanied by simple, but helpful descriptions so you know just what to write in every input field. Any file format can be targeted, except for directories, but this shouldn't pose any problems.

You can only pick files through the implemented explorer. For what it has to offer, it's only a shame that you can't simply drag them over the main window. There isn't even an option to integrate the whole process in your default context menu.

Going on to what really matters, all other features make you easily overlook those small inconveniences. A drop down menu lets you pick the algorithm you want to use for encryption, with options like Blowfish, Mars, RC6, Rijnedeal AES, Serpent and TwoFish at your disposal.

All you need to remember is the password, because it's the only way to retrieve content. The original file is not tampered with and the secured version created either as ZIP archive, CAB or EXE in the same directory. Extraction is simple, with the process not requiring you to have SFX Creator installed, but only provide the right password.

Last but not least, the application comes with an incredibly helpful companion. We're talking about Random Password Generator which can easily be accessed through the main window by hitting the “PW” button, or the executable in the installation directory.

A new window pops up that allows you to generate an abundance of random passwords at the press of a button. These come out according to a few settings you can manage, such as length and total number of items, as well as character specific options like casing, whether or not to use symbols and numbers.

On an ending note, SFX Creator lives up to expectations by providing a simple and quick method of protecting your files from prying eyes or dangers that lurk in all corners of the Internet. Several output formats are ate your disposal for some flexibility, while the password generator counterpart makes up for half the quality brought by this application.