Registration Fee: $15.00 (discounts for multi-license
purchase)
Availability: Windows Forum Software Library (AOL)
Filename: COT11.ZIP
Filesize (zipped): 249,133 bytes
Filesize (unzipped): 249,017 bytes (SETUP.EXE)
Keywords: Savard, Win 3.1, Encrypt, Decrypt,
Secure, E-Mail, Password, Protect,
Top Pick
Requirements: Windows 3.1
Rating (1-10): 9
Date of Review: 6/28/95
Installation
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Installation Rating: 9
Description of Installation Process:
You need to create a temporary directory to extract the zipped program file (COT11.ZIP) into. Once done, run SETUP.EXE. This will search your hard drive for previous versions of Crypt-O-Text. It then asks which directory you want the program installed in (if you want it in a different directory than the default either type it in or click on the one you want in the displayed directory tree). The program files are then copied into the specified directory (any files already existing on your system are backed up) and, either a Program Manager group and icons are created or the program's icon can be added to an existing group.
Features
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Listing/Description of Features:
Crypt-o-Text v1.1 uses complex encryption algorithms to "scramble" any text (text files, E-Mail messages, etc.) making it completely unreadable by anyone until it is unscrambled again. Crypt-o-Text formats your encoded messages for easy sending over ANY e-mail system. Each line of your encrypted text is only 65 characters in width and uses only low-ASCII characters.
You can type text directly into Crypt-o-Text's built in text editor, copy and paste text into Crypt-o-Text from another Windows program or you can open an existing text file using the "Open File" menu feature. Encypting/Decrypting text is very easily done with a couple of mouse clicks. Once your text is encrypted you can Save it to a file or Copy and Paste it into another program (like a E-Mail program to send very private messages). When using Copy and Paste make sure you copy all of encrypted file (every part of the message is necessary in order for it to be decrypted later). In decrypting text you can also use the same Copy/Paste or Open File methods to to get the encypted file into Crypt-o-Text's text editor (once again, make sure ALL of the message is copied).
Crypt-o-Text allows you to add full password protection to your encrypted files (without password protection encrypted messages can be decypted by anyone with a copy of Crypt-o-Text). This password must be entered to decrypt the file for viewing/editing. When you use password protection in encrypting text, that password is used in the algorithm perfoming the encryption so, if you use different passwords to protect the same text you will notice that the final encypted file is different for each password. Passwords are encrypted along with your text and are embedded in the final encrypted file (there is absolutely no way of deciphering a password from examining an encrypted file so there is no security risk here). In decrypting a password protected text file Crypt-to-Text uses the password you enter and compares it with the one embedded in the encrypted text. If they match the message is decrypted. If they do not, the message is not decrypted and a warning message is issued. You can then either try to reenter the password or cancel the operation. (NOTE: The password protection feature of Crypt-o-Text is VERY secure so be careful to remember your password!! If you forget the password used to encrypt your text, there is NO way to unscramble the message. Not even the author of the program (Rodney Savard) can recover an encrypted file if you forget the password!)
Crypt-o-Text also allows multiple encryption (you can encrypt an encrypted file) for even higher levels of security.
Crypt-O-Text's Action Menu has options for: New File, Open File, Save File As, Encrypt, Encrypt with Specific Method (Crypt-o-Text retains full backward-compatibility with previous versions. This lets you encrypt text so it can be decrypted by either version 1.0 or higher or 1.1 or higher), Decrypt, Enter Registration Code and Exit Crypt-O-Text. Its Edit Menu's options are: Undo, Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete, and Select All. The Options Menu's features are: Font (change type, style and size), Text Color, Background Color, and Word Wrap. Its Help Menu has options for: Contents, Search for Help on..., How to Use Help, and About Crypt-O-Text.
The programs Toolbar has buttons for: New File, Open File, Save File, Cut, Copy, Paste, Select All, Delete, Undo, Encrypt and Decrypt. The Status Bar (at the bottom of the screen) displays the type of text (Normal or Encrypted) and the number of bytes in the currently open file.
Help/Documentation Rating: 8.75
The program comes with a Windows format Help file which adequately answers most of the questions you may have. It also has Help Balloons which appear over Toolbar buttons when your mouse cursor is moved over them.
Summary
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In this age where security is really becoming in issue (whether that be in online communications, office networks or any computer operated by more than one user) it is really nice to find a program like Crypt-O-Text v1.1. This one really makes you feel secure in knowing that your textual data or E-Mail IS safe from prying eyes.
This program has some great features. I especially like the fact that it is fully compatible with previous versions of Crypt-o-Text. This enables you to send messages to someone using an older copy of it without problems (the first message you should send them is to upgrade to v1.1!) The addition of Word Wrap, Select All, Delete and Undo are all great improvements on its predecessor (especially Word Wrap).
I give this security utility my highest recommendation (I have already added it to my list of favorite/best shareware programs). Download and register this gem as soon as possible!!!
Problems and Suggestions
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List of Problems found:
There were no conflicts, General Protection Faults (GPF's) or program errors encountered during my evaluation of this software.
Suggestions for Improvement:
The addition of a Print feature to Crypt-o-Text. This would eliminate the steps of having to save (or copy and paste) your decrypted text into another file for printing with an external program. (NOTE: The lack of a print option does not detract from this program in any way.)
Technical Support
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Technical Support Rating: 9
Description:
All inquiries made about the program were replied to in less than 24 hours (via E-Mail). Answers given were well written and very helpful. Technical support is available via E-Mail, snail mail and voice telephone.
What do you get when you register?
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You will receive a "key" code that will remove the opening registration "Wait" screen on this and all subsequent versions of Crypt-o-Text. You are also entitled to unlimited technical support.
Disclaimer
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(DISCLAIMER: This review is provided for information/entertainment purposes only. The author will not be held responsible or liable for any problems which may occur in the use of any of the reviewed software. The author will also not be held responsible if the program reviewed does not operate, in the way stated. With there being so many system configurations possible confilcts/problems can arise which may prevent the reviewed software from operating in the way indicated. This is not the responsibility of the reviewer.)
