SECURITY SOFTWARE SOLARSOFT www.madesafe.com $67.98

Threats to your data are on the rise. Cybersnoops, identity thieves, and hackers are increasing in number, and lost or stolen laptops are a growing concern. Solarsoft Ltd.'s MadeSafe encryption tools can help.

The MadeSafe business edition makes it easy for non-IT professionals to store and secure information, making it a good complement to PC firewalls and antivirus software. Quadrant Consultants Ltd. in London uses the product to encrypt sensitive data, such as payroll information. "We looked at several methods of encryption, including PGP Pretty Good Privacy, and they weren't easy," says Peter Hayes, managing director for the business consulting firm. "That's what we liked about MadeSafe--it's drag-and-drop encryption."

Some products require that users regularly encrypt sensitive files or mandate that other parties use the same software to exchange encrypted documents. Not so with MadeSafe. It automatically scans pre-selected files and makes sure they're encrypted, and allows the sharing of encrypted documents via E-mail, even when the recipient isn't a MadeSafe customer.

MadeSafe includes tools to help users wipe sensitive information, often left in temporary and previously deleted files, from the hard drive. For additional protection, Solarsoft's Active Stealth intrusion-detection technology reacts to dangerous probes by actively scattering files using artificial intelligence in such a way that only the owner can recover them.--George V. Hulme