Steganos Privacy Suite 11

There are many ways in which your privacy can be compromised if you go online so, if you’re worried, it’s worth investing in a suite of tools that protects you from a range of threats. The latest version of Steganos Privacy Suite will go some way to keeping you safe from prying eyes.

Features:
We’re used to security suites having a unifying interface that gives an overview and offers a coherent route into the different tools and utilities available. Steganos has that, but you can also access programs individually via the Start button. There’s a good collection of tools, including encryption software, secure file deletion, anti-theft software (which broadcasts a laptop’s IP location to Steganos’s servers) and a password manager. Trace deletion works in Internet Explorer, Firefox and Opera, but not Chrome, and also cleans up after Windows and Microsoft Office.

Performance:
If you use Steganos’s picture or symbol password option, you won’t even be typing in characters or numbers to enter passwords for the suite, but clicking particular images in a specific order, which is great protection against keyloggers and other digital snoopers. The encryption software is very versatile, with options to save files in a safe and inaccessible area of your disk and in encrypted folders requiring a password to access. You can even create encrypted CDs, DVDs and USB memory sticks.

Ease of use:
Considering the complexity of what’s on offer, the software is remarkably easy to use. The individual programs are only a click away and, because they all look the same and operate in a similar way, there’s practically nothing to learn. Most of the complications have been removed – all you have to do is remember your passwords.

Value for money:
As is often the case with a suite like this, many of the programs included have free alternatives that are just as good. The benefit of a suite is that you don’t have to find everything for yourself on the web. Still, £45 is a lot of money, so you need to be sure your privacy requirements are serious enough to warrant the expense.