Exces Review & Giveaway

Posted by Taylor Sternberg on 02/2/08 in Featured, Giveaways, Organization, Utilities

Everybody has secrets. From something mundane like a list of possible gift ideas for your girlfriend’s upcoming birthday, to something more important like a text file with passwords or licenses in it. While OS X does include a function for encrypting files right out of the box, there have been a few products come out recently that aim to make this simpler, and more intuitive. One of them is Exces from SeoSoft.

I am going to take you through Exces a bit here but and guys over at SeoSoft have been kind enough to give us 3 licenses to give away at the end of the review - so read on for your chance to win.

Exces is a quick and easy way for users to encrypt data with a password. Version 1.5 offers various changes, including:

Auto-lock, which locks your data after 10 minutes of inactivity. Unfortunately, files that are open will not autolock (this is to avoid data corruption).
“Lots of polish. Little things have been changed all over the place to improve the global behavior of Exces.”
Various bug fixes.

We reviewed Exces recently but I have some updated thoughts as well.

Privacy concerns with files makes sense to me, and there are those who need privacy with their files. I can safely say that I am not one who needs individual file security outside what OS X currently offers (File Vault - check your security preferences to check it out).

When opening the application, the first thing I noticed was the 3D globe. The whole application’s GUI centers around a graphical “security orb” which I find fairly superfluous. The application could have done without it, as the orb adds excess (punny?) screen real estate to the window. However, it is a visual reminder of the file being locked or unlocked, so it is helpful, if a little larger than expected.

You start Exces by creating an Exces File, with a storage size of your preference. You must reserve this amount of space. It’s not overly flexible right now, but allows you a space to put your files to be secured in.

When the file is locked, the orb is blue, closed, and secured.

Locked!

When the password is entered, the orb is open, and ready to receive files.

Unlocked!

And it really is that simple. You can lock, and unlock your files as you see fit.

The shrink button allows you to shrink the file you have created down to what’s in it. If you have a 10GB storage file, with only 2 GB of files within it, you can shrink down the file down to 2GB. That’s the flexibility that I wanted, but I would have preferred if the shrink function was automatic.

Exces’ Pref Pane The preferences are minimal, and only currently offer an auto-lock function, along with an auto-updater and a registration page.

Exces is a very simple application to secure your files, and gets the job done. Consider this the convenience option of file security. But in my tests, I found that in order to unlock the file, I must have Exces installed. Not very practical if you’re sending a secure file to another person who does not have Exces. But all gripes aside, if you’re looking for quick security, Exces works well. Give it a try.

…Or win a license! This contest is simple guys. Simply tell us how you would use Exces or a feature that you would like to see included and you’re entered to win. Contest closes a week from today at midnight EST and winners will be announced shortly after that. Good luck!

If you missed this giveaway Exces retails for €19.50 from Seosoft. A trial version is available.

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17 Comment(s)

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Kuba said on

February 2nd, 2008 at 7:23 am

Recently I have started creating my own website which I want to develop to a popular web service. Due to that fact I have lots of designs and ideas saved on my MacBook. That is where I would use Exces, to secure those files, since many people tend to use my Mac, as well as I am afraid of leak of those files=my ideas to the internet. I always take care of my belongings, and I think Exces will help me in taking care if them.

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-1

Mr. Bond said on

February 2nd, 2008 at 9:40 am

As a world-class secret agent, keeping important documents safe from prying eyes is a number one priority. Exces is a really quick and simple way to lock up those files while on the go, a necessity for an active person like myself who is often making a highly classified Excel document one moment, and rushing off in a heavily modified Aston Martin the next. With Exces, I would be able to secure my documents effectively and quickly, thus allowing me to spend more time saving the free world.

Kyle P. said on

February 2nd, 2008 at 10:11 am

This looks like a pretty handy app. I’d like to use it to secure all of the financial data I keep on my laptop. Thanks for the review!

-1

J Dott said on

February 2nd, 2008 at 10:29 am

One of the reasons I now use a desktop for my main machines is so that I don’t have to be as concerned about data security (if someone is already in my house, I’m in trouble anyway). However, there are some records that I need to keep absolutely secure. Therefore, I don’t really need to use FileVault to secure my entire home directory, but would like to secure say my tax records and teaching folder using Execs.

Joachim said on

February 2nd, 2008 at 10:38 am

Here a few options:
- option to delete files after copying them to the vault.
- give custom icons to the ‘unlocked’ vaults (that are visible in the finder) instead of the common diskimage icon (perhaps even user replaceable?).
- when the vault is unlocked show it’s size and the containing files/folders in the Exces application and the possibility to open them from there as well (instead of making the finder popup).
- and optional Auto-shrink like mentioned in the article above.

Best, Joachim

Al said on

February 2nd, 2008 at 1:14 pm

Porn

-6

Dan said on

February 2nd, 2008 at 2:20 pm

Probably gift lists, and also (clearly) all of my top secret government documents that I have lying around on my desktop.

-3

Guest said on

February 2nd, 2008 at 3:51 pm

I never really understood how this app is better than Disk Utility which provides the same basic feature - encrypted disk image.

-5

Nathan C said on

February 2nd, 2008 at 5:31 pm

I would use it to hide gift lists, along wih other important files which should remain unseen…

ONe feature that i would like to see is specialized icons for the disk images, so that way i wouldnt confuse it with another .dmg file

Adam Gerson said on

February 2nd, 2008 at 6:03 pm

I have a spreadsheet with usernames and passwords in it. I use the built in Microsoft password protection on the document, but I am looking for something more secure.

Richard said on

February 2nd, 2008 at 9:53 pm

How about an option to hide the encrypted file?

Michele said on

February 3rd, 2008 at 6:02 am

My only complaint with the app is the graphics, so I’d remove the superflous graphics and maybe add a few of the more advanced features Knox has. Otherwise, it’s great!

-4

MikeH said on

February 3rd, 2008 at 12:45 pm

I’m a bit of a ladies man. I have a text file with all of my favorite girls telephone numbers and other deets in. I am always dreading one morning waking up to my wife finding the data on the USB drive where I hide it. With Exces I would have no need to worry!

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Walter Mitty said on

February 4th, 2008 at 3:29 pm

I share my computer with someone and sometimes you just REALLY don’t want people looking at certain things of a sensitive nature (ranging from Sekkrit Birthday Plans to financial records to, well, porn).

Exces would be just the app for the job.

-4

Keith said on

February 4th, 2008 at 6:47 pm

I would use it on my class iMac to encrypt files that don’t need to be accessible to the students.

Phil said on

February 9th, 2008 at 1:30 am

I could really use something like Exces. I’m developing many business plans. As any of you know, when you think you have a million dollar idea, you tell basically no one (perhaps you mom, since she can usually be trusted, unless she is a blabber-mouth like mine, although very trust worthy). No, I haven’t told her anything… because of the blabbering. I also share my computer with my wife. She is very trustworthy, and can keep a secret, but I want her to know things when I am ready to discuss them. Exces would be perfect for me. Thanks for hosting giveaways!

Peace.

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Jeremy Sabugo said on

February 9th, 2008 at 4:03 pm

I would use Exces to protect all my documents such as college papers, personal emails, scandalous picture and videos. Those are the file i would keep secure.

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