"If you really want to get into security, I recommend a package like Steganos. It costs money, but it’s extremely easy to use and a whole lot of options. Email encryption, file (or even entire drive and partition) hiding, encrypted Internet connections (if you can afford that, it’s the best way to go!!) Steganos even offers a free encryption tool on their Web site: LockNote to encrypt data you want to keep on your PC, like passwords and the like, and FreeCrypt which allows you en- and decrypt text that you can cut-n-paste into messages. (The recipient just has to use the same Web page to decrypt so long as they have the password you decide on).(...) Steganos and Anonymizer VPN, mentioned above, provides a secure, encrypted connection which makes all of your traffic anonymous so companies can’t track your browsing habits and visits and tie it back to you. (...) Steganos Safe is very user friendly."

www.celticbear.com/weblog/2008/06/27/on-the-issue-of-privacy-and-protecting-civil-liberties/

"Shred it: Make sure that any data you no longer need is irretrievably destroyed using dedicated shredder software. Deleting a file on your PC only hides it from view and it can be recovered until other files have overwritten it. Take particular care before disposing of your computer or giving it away. Even if you've put everything in the recycle bin and emptied it, whoever ends up owning your hard drive could recover all your secrets."

By Aston Fallen, managing director, Steganos

"Given the range of tools on offer in Steganos Privacy Suite 2008 and the overall quality of the software, £40 really isn't too much to ask, especially when you consider how much identity theft could end up costing you."

Result: "A good range of tools for improving your PC security and all at a reasonable price"

"(...) is a grab-bag of top tools that perform a wide range of security related tasks. It goes further than most (...). It's the most comprehensive of the privacy suites. (...) you get a great package."

Quality: 10/10; Value: 9/10; Overall: 9/10.

"The most secure data purging software overwrites data with a pseudo-random pattern, which will prevent even the most advanced data recovery techniques. There are a number of data purging software tools available on the internet including Steganos (...)."