Secret Layer 2.8.1

Overview

Secret Layer is another steganography application we would like you to know about. It is a simple tool that hides and encrypts your messages or files inside image files. No one but you and your recipient will ever know there is a message or a hidden file within an ordinary looking photo you are sending over email or uploading on your blog, or forum. Your recipient will be able to download the image with encrypted message and extract it with the help of this little tool.

Data encryption is becoming vital due to the large number of Internet frauds that flourish behind the incognito status granted to users by Internet. Steganography is the answer to any company, or government that tries to violate privacy of your communication. Password protection is helpful, but there are numerous programs that can crack your passwords. Hiding your sensitive information in plain sight may be the simplicity that has a genius to it.

Secret Layer allows users to hide messages and files inside images and encrypt that data. It protects your sensitive information by slightly tweaking the color of specific pixels. Neither human eye, nor forensic processor can tell a visible difference between the original image and the image that contains the hidden data. Steganography can not be incriminated in countries that forbade cryptography, or so claims the developer’s website.

Installation

Users who previously had Secret Layer 2.7.1 must be aware that it is not compatible with 2.8.1 edition due to core upgrade. Requirements: Processor: 2.0 GHz, RAM: 512 Mb (Recommended 2GB), Hard disk 25 Mb. Secret Layer supports Microsoft Windows XP (SP3), Vista (SP2), 7, 8. This is a 7 day trial version with limited functions: you can not use GIF images and encrypt data. These options become available in the full version of Secret Layer. There are no bundled software or toolbars, but you must let the application through your firewall. Interface The interface in SecretLayer is sleek and streamlined. A small, good-looking main window offers several options - hide data wizard, extract data wizard, help, online video tutorials and minor settings. Advanced users can choose the Expert mode without wizard. Overall, GUI is simple, user-friendly and intuitive. There is nothing irritating that does not belong there.

Pros

• Attractive and intuitive GUI.
• Hidden data does not leave any traces as you transfer it by email, or upload on a website.
• There is no trace of your encrypted data existence.
• Secret Layer works with .png images that are small in size and inconspicuous.
• Supports multiple encryption methods to hide your critical data.

Cons

In our test, we used the .txt files to hide within the image and they added insignificant bytes to the image size. This may be different with larger files. However, we could not find any viable Con in the trial pack.

Alternatives