Fort – File encryption & password management software for Windows
Fort is file encryption and password management software for Windows. Fort offers an easy and reliable encryption of files. Password protecting files and folders has never been easier. Fort can be also used to encrypt files and directories in Onedrive, Dropbox and other similar services. Our core components are open source.
Why Fort?
Cryptography and data encryption is important. In todays world we are connected all the time. We put our files on different cloud services where they are basically available for the companies running those services and for criminals who might be able to gain access those services. There are many “free” services in which the only way to pay is with your privacy. One might think that “I have nothing to hide”. That’s not the point. The point is that privacy is a basic human right.
As Bruce Schneier said, “Privacy isn’t about hiding something. It’s about being able to control how we present ourselves to the world. It’s about maintaining a public face while at the same time being permitted private thoughts and actions. It’s about personal dignity.”
Fort concentrates on encrypting individual files and directories so they can be safely put into a cloud service or similar. Even if you just have sensitive files and data in your laptop locally, what if the laptop gets stolen? Surely you do not want criminals to be able to use the data.
Features
- Screenshot of Fort
- Windows Explorer integration
- Source code availability, for auditing the code
- Uses AES with 256 bit keys
- Support for 4096 bit keyfiles
- Encrypt using a passphrase, a keyfile or combination of both for extra security.
- Detects data tampering
- Very lightweight, does not slow down your machine
- Easy to use and easy to install.
- Multi-lingual, English, Brazil, Finnish and French, more to come
- Optional file backup before encryption
- Encrypt and decrypt directories as well as individual files
- Protect against keyloggers, supports on screen keyboard
- Encrypt files in Onedrive, Dropbox and similar services
- Supports Windows Vista, 7, 8 and 10. Both 32bit and 64bit versions
- No backdoors, no malware
- Well designed FortMachine.dll cryptography library available for developers
- Fort has it’s own file associations, double click an encrypted file to decrypt it.
- Uses only FIPS compliant cryptographic modules
- Security
Fort takes security seriously and uses AES with 256bit keys. On decryption Fort checks that the data is not tampered in any way and informs if data tampering is detected. For each file, Fort generates a random initialization vector that is used only once. Similarly, for keys a random one time salt is generated by Fort.
You are allowed to use this product only within the laws of your country/region. SharewareOnSale and its staff are not responsible for any illegal activity. We did not develop this product; if you have an issue with this product, contact the developer. This product is offered "as is" without express or implied or any other type of warranty. The description of this product on this page is not a recommendation, endorsement, or review; it is a marketing description, written by the developer. The quality and performance of this product is without guarantee. Download or use at your own risk. If you don't feel comfortable with this product, then don't download it.
Reviews for Fort Professional Edition
Fort does work, but it has some shortcomings that make it miss the mark. Without further ado, let’s focus on what it has to offer.
PROS
*Easy install: A few seconds is all that is required to install a program on Windows 8 and up. The license agreement is also relatively short if you like reading them, so even then, it will take you a minute tops to set it up. Unless you are on Windows 7 and don’t have the .NET Framework 4.0 installed, then you must install it first.
*Easy to use: Right click any file, choose Fort, then encrypt. A simple window pops up and you can work on encrypting your file.
*Functionality: It allows you to create random passwords (although you’ll need to copy the password first or you will lose access to it, but to do that, you’ll need to first show the password then copy it, otherwise it will not allow you to), tells you how secure your password is, and it even lets you summon the on-screen keyboard. In addition, you can encrypt using an encryption key file instead of a password.
*Fast: It won’t take long for a simple image to be encrypted or decrypted. Less than a second for one image, a couple for multiple.
*Works on folders: You can encrypt all the files inside this folder, or just zip the folder and encrypt the zip file.
*Has an interface: This interface will allow you to track down which files and folders that you have encrypted.
*Can make backups: Enabled by default, this will make a copy of the unencrypted file you’re encrypting as a fail-safe. You can disable it.
CONS
*Decryption can possibly delete your encrypted file if it does not have the program’s extension, .fortenc. So be sure that whatever you’re decrypting, that it must end with the .fortenc extension, otherwise the file will be lost.
*A generated password cannot be copied unless the generated password is visible as a string. If you fail to copy the generated password as a visible string before you encrypt a file, you will be locked out of it.
*Does not save any passwords used, and there are no “I forgot the password” prompts. So if you forget the password, you are locked out of your files. It is best to use a key file at this point.
*When failing to decrypt a file, it may show for a split second, thus, if your PC has someone remotely accessing it (I hope not), they might be able to copy the file in this split second.
*Main interface is separate from what you lock via the context menu, so whatever you lock in the context menu won’t be seen in the main interface of Fort.
These shortcomings are mostly fatal, but if you can avoid them, Fort becomes a solid encryption/decryption program. It’s just not worth the asking price of $55 given all of these shortcomings were it not for SharewareOnSale. Thanks for SharewareOnSale and the developer for collaborating to offer this program for free, but honestly, for a program orientated towards a sensitive aspect of computing, the developer should look as soon as possible towards patching out these issues.
I have recorded the program in action, showing some of the pros and cons that I mentioned above here:
https://youtu.be/AYf0pjSIvtU
Read Replies |
Hi developer here.
“When failing to decrypt a file, it may show for a split second, thus, if your PC has someone remotely accessing it (I hope not), they might be able to copy the file in this split second”
– Not true. If someone would be able to access the file, the file is unusable. There’s simply no plain data in the file at that moment.
“Main interface is separate from what you lock via the context menu, so whatever you lock in the context menu won’t be seen in the main interface of Fort.”
-This will become optional in the next version of Fort. Reason it’s the way it’s now is because users wanted it. We had a fairly long design session with
this feature back in the day when it what designed. However in the next version there will be an option to change this behaviour.
“*A generated password cannot be copied unless the generated password is visible as a string. If you fail to copy the generated password as a visible string before you encrypt a file, you will be locked out of it.”
-Using ctrl+c works in either case. This is somehat weird, I agree but it’s default Windows behaviour which users are used to. We might address this
in case more than one user finds it problematic.
“Decryption can possibly delete your encrypted file if it does not have the program’s extension, .fortenc.”
-Thank you for finding this bug. This will be fixed asap.
Everybody needs some level of privacy. Based on that fact, it is always necessary to be sure about your important files regardless of where you have saved them. Fort can help you add another level of security with its AES 256 bit key encryption approach. The application also supports 4096 bit keyfiles.
Functionality
In a few minutes, I was done installing Fort. To use this software, you need to right click on the file or directory you want to encrypt and select Fort from the options listed. After choosing your preferred passphrase or keyfile, you can opt to select a few other options under settings like showing a confirmation after successful encryption and making backup files before encryption.
Pros
Easy to Use
While using Fort, I noted that the most important thing is the passphrase. Be it a chosen or generated phrase, it must match the encryption phrase during decryption. Otherwise, the other options are pretty straightforward.
Make Backup Before Encryption
Fort creates backup files before encryption. This feature is important especially when you use the passphrase generator and forget to note the phrase. If you have the phrase noted somewhere, you can proceed to delete the backups to create space.
Generate Strong Passphrases
Coming up with a strong passphrase might be challenging to many. Based on that fact, Fort has passphrase generator that suggests strong passphrases for the encryption process with each click. Be sure to note the passphrase since you will need it during decryption.
Use On-screen Keyboard
While inputting your encryption passphrase, Fort provides a one-click shortcut to open the on-screen keyboard. This is a good alternative when you want to avoid keyloggers from recording your keystrokes.
Encrypts Files Across Online Data Backup Platforms
When using Fort, encrypting your local files syncs and reflects across all your online platforms. To view or run the files, one will need the passphrase you used during encryption.
Cons
Creates File Copies
Although it might be a good thing, creating copies of unencrypted files after encryption is a downside of Fort especially if the files are large. The copies of files become redundant. They will take up a lot of your disk space.
No Confirmation Prompt
When encrypting directories or files, Fort does not have a confirmation prompt after clicking on the Encrypt button. You cannot stop the process once it starts. At the same time, Fort does not provide an option to confirm your passphrase. In case you have not selected the Create Backup Before Encryption option under settings, you will end up with encrypted files you cannot decrypt if you forget the passphrase.
Verdict
With its few encryption steps, Fort should be your top software whenever you need to encrypt your directories and files. Since the application uses the AES 256 bit keys during the encryption process, you will rest assured of the privacy of your files.
Read Replies |
Actually Fort does provide an option to confirm your passphrase. The setting for it is in the Interface tab on the settings dialog.
Actually Fort does have an option to confirm your passphrase. It can be found from the “interface” tab of the settings dialog.
I have been using an earlier version of Fort for some time and corresponded with the developer and suggesting some improvements. ” Fort does not provide an option to confirm your passphrase ” this is incorrect you have to enter your passphrase then enter it a second time clicking on the eye symbol reveals the text for both fields so you can check if your have entered these two correctly.
Why do you need “a confirmation prompt after clicking on the Encrypt button?” surely you just want the app do get on with what you want it to do. This is a great application and I recommend it to anyone who is concerned about the security of their private documents
Fort actually has two settings for the cons you mentioned. For creating file copies, you can enter the Settings for Fort and then disable “Make a backup before encryption.” In addition, you can show a confirmation after a successful encryption, from the Settings too, check “Show confirmation after successful encryption”
Submit Your Review
This is for reviews only. If you want to post suggestions or comments, ask questions, or need help, please post in the discussion forum.