APC Biometric Password Manager Review

Encrypting Files and Folders

The Biopod also allows users to encrypt and decrypt Windows files and folders. The OmniPass software adds encryption options to the right-click menu in Windows. Just select the file or entire folder, right-click on the mouse and let the process run its course – which can take quite some time depending on the number of files and their size. To open, run or decrypt the files require scanning your fingertip. Encryption adds a .opf extension to each file – so if you ever move the data to a machine that doesn’t have the OmniPass software installed, they cannot be decrypted. The same goes if you ever uninstall the software or the Biopod.

You can choose from a list of cryptographic service providers (CSP) on the application settings. By default, Microsoft Base Cryptographic provider is selected.

The encryption feature is the coolest use of APC’s Biometric Password Manager. It prevents unauthorized opening of sensitive files on your PC – and if you take the extra care of renaming that data prior to encrypting, you can rest assured that no one will break the privacy of your hard disk.

Figure 8: Encryption process.

Figure 9: Encrypted files.