VisualVernam

File security if a great concern when it comes to computer use, especially with an active Internet connection. Sure enough, you can bundle important files in an archive to prevent malicious content from infecting them, but applications like VisualVernam provide tougher security means through encryption, so only you can access target files.

The application was built on the Java Runtime Environment platform, which means you need to check if it’s installed on your computer for things to work out. However, the application can be carried around on a thumb drive to use on other computer, requiring no installation in order to function.

All features are stored in a compact main window, split into two sections for encryption, as well as decryption. Unfortunately, adding a file needs to be done through the built-in browse dialog, which is a little difficult to use. This is because dragging target files over the main window has no effect, and the application doesn’t integrate itself into the context menu for an even easier approach.

You might notice that there’s only one input field for encryption, whereas the decryption section is fitted with two. It’s not for password, because the application uses its own techniques. Upon encryption, you get two files, one that contains your original target, while the other is the key used for encryption.

However, the key is generated as a registry file, so be sure not to run it to risk messing up your PC. What’s more, you need to keep both files safe, otherwise you can’t recover content. Files are delivered in the source directory of the target item, with no built-in option to have the original removed.

Taking everything into consideration, we can say that VisualVernam is a practical utility which helps you encrypt a file with little effort and time invested in the process. Although it doesn’t ask for a password, two files are generated, hence you need to pay extra attention where you store them to be able to ever recover original content.