Cobian Backup 9.1.1.193 – Good and free backup software

The new version of Cobian Backup software has been released recently. Cobian Backup is a multi-threaded application that allows to schedule and backup your files and directories from some place in your computer to other directories or drives in the same computer or to a shared drive in another machine. There is also full support for the protocol FTP. So the program lets you ability to back up your files to your FTP server.
Cobian Backup exists in two versions: software and service. Cobian Backup software uses very few resources and can be running on the background on your system, checking your backup schedule and executing your backups when it necessary.
The application supports several methods of strong encryption and compression. So it can be used not only for making backups of your file and folders but for creating security copies of them.
Cobian Backup has very simple and easy to use interface with extra-large icons that even your grandmother can read without her glasses on. Maybe the program lacks some features of more powerful backup software products but it allows you to create and schedule an automated backup of all your important files in a few minutes.

Like any good backup utility, Cobian Backup allows you to choose what type of backup full or incremental you want to create. Full backup allows you to create a copy of all your data every time. Incremental backup makes a copy only of those files that have changed.
Here some others key features of Cobian Backup software:

• automatic removing of old backups
• remote backup
• displaying of backup history
• an open plugin architecture to allow the program's enhancement
• backup to multiple destinations.

The latest version 9.1.1.193 of Cobian Backup has a lot of changes. Here is the list of the most important of them:

• Start a backup when autostart
  
• Autostart the interface can now be set for all users or the current user
  
• Now you can pause the backup in any place
  
• Proxy SMTP can now use SOCKS
  
• SMTP can now use SSL
  
• FTP operations use now UNICODE for local operations
  
• FTP operations can now use UTF transfers if the server support it
  
• Support for 7zip compression
  
• Zip files can now store file names in UNICODE
  
• A brand new, improved help file and tutorial
  
• And more.

You can download the latest version of Cobian Backup here.

TrueCrypt 5.0 - Best Free Real-time File Encryption

If you want to protect certain sensitive data, the most viable and simple solution is data encryption. There are many encryption programs to choose from, but when it comes to ease of use and value few can compare to the open-source TrueCrypt software.
TrueCrypt can create a virtual encrypted disk within a file and mount it as a virtual disk that can be accessed via a drive letter. It can also encrypt entire hard drive or removable media, such as USB flash drives, floppy disks, and memory sticks.
Any file that is saved on the encrypted virtual drive is automatically encrypted on-the-fly, and can only be accessed while the drive is mounted with the correct password or key.
TrueCrypt supports 11 algorithms for encrypting your private data, including such algorithms as AES-256, Blowfish (448-bit key), CAST5, Serpent, Triple DES, and Twofish.
The best feature TrueCrypt provides for the user is the ability to create a hidden drives. It is the best way to prevent others from discovering that some data even exist.
The program has quite simple interface and the regular user can handle it easily. The useful tips in the comprehensive web help manual and volume-creation wizard provide excellent guidance.



One obvious downside of any strong encryption program is if you forget your password, you should consider any protected files as good as gone. So don’t forget your passwords.
I’ve tried several free and ‘lite’ encryption programs and TrueCrypt is my doubtless favorite. Similar applications cost enough to make you avoid them. TrueCrypt is free.

Compatibility: Microsoft Windows 2000, 2003, XP, and Vista. Mac OS X and Linux operating systems are also supported.
You can download TrueCrypt from this page.