"Need to password-protect or lock important or confidential files on your computer? I normally tend to save my passwords, account numbers, and user names in a text file on my computer, but it’s horribly prone to hackers. If you’re using Notepad like me to store all this highly sensitive information, you’re taking a big risk. (...) That’s where you can use a nifty little program called LockNote to replace Notepad when you want to create secure and locked text files. Using LockNote, you can protect your files with double security: AES 265-bit encryption and password protection. (...) Finally, the program is a stand-along executable, meaning there is no installation required. You can copy the EXE file onto your USB stick and carry it around with you anywhere. Enjoy!" Read mor here

"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/

"Verdict: Good idea for your passwords and other private info (...)."

Rating: 3/5 stars

"...in the form of its Locknote utility. It' s only 300KB in size,

so it downloads almost instantaneously. All you do is save the text file and as you do so, it asks you for a password. Locknote then encrypts the file using 256-bit encryption technology. When you open it again, it asks you for the password. Best of all, it' s completely free!"

" Steganos LockNote is very good for this. To use it you simply drag a text file on to the program's Icon and enter a password when prompted. It creates an encrypted version of your text that can only be opened when you enter the same password."