Although there are many types of compression available, ZIP compression is still the one that is most being used. If you think ZIP format was invented by WinZIP, then you’re wrong. The ZIP file archive format was originally invented for MS-DOS in 1989 by Phil Katz and his company PKWare to collect related files into a single package and handily compresses the data for storage or transmission. Because PKWare did not protect the name by trademark and algorithm of the process by patent, and was slow to realize that the Windows operating systems would eventually dominate the OS market, WinZip Computing Inc. eventually seized the opportunity and released the WinZip application for Microsoft Windows.

Well enough of history lesson for ZIP file. What I want to share with you today is if you’re using WinZIP, or not using any third-party compression utility at all, you might want to consider SecureZIP. The simple reason is it does everything you’d expect from a ZIP utility and more. Most important of all, you can get it at for FREE at a limited time as it normally cost $29.95.

Download Full Retail SecureZIP

The big difference between SecureZIP and WinZIP is it has stronger security capabilities which is advanced 3DES and AES encryption, advanced filename encryption and digital certificate (x. 509) encryption with digital signature capabilities. Other than security, SecureZIP also offers better integration capabilities than WinZIP which securely save and send documents directly out of Microsoft Office and securely send emails and attachments from Microsoft Outlook.

Secure ZIP files from office

SecureZIP can also open a number of other popular compression formats, including ZIP, PKSFX, BZ2, TBZ, BZ, CAB, TAR, GZ, TGZ, RAR, LZH, LHA, ARJ, UUE, XXE, HQX and JAR. If you go to PKWare’s website, you’ll only get to see that SecureZIP cost $29.95 for the standard edition. The only page that shows we can get SecureZIP FREE for non-commercial use is the SecureZIP vs WinZIP page. I pity those who didn’t know about this offer and paid $29.95 for a product which we can actually get it for free.

Another thing that I find it weird at the SecureZIP offer website is it says “This limited time offer is for a full individual user license. THIS IS NOT TRIAL SOFTWARE!”. I googled and found that this offer has already been going on for a year. Anyway, whether to use it or not, just download it first because we’ll never know when will this limited time offer expires. Maybe it’ll be useful to you someday when you’re working in some company that requires frequent encryption for compressed files.

[ Download Fully Licensed SecureZip for Windows ]

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