Are you constantly using your text editor to create some unformatted documents and files? How about using it for keeping some important data such as your private notes, online payment receipts and chat logs? As for the latter, you might want to use a secure text editor such as Secure Edit for Windows.

What Is It and What Does It Do

Main Functionality

Secure Edit is a standard text editor for Windows that lets you encrypt your text files with a password. This software is free and portable so there’s no need for you to install it on your computer. You can even store and load this software from a USB flash drive. Furthermore, Secure Edit uses blowfish algorithm to encrypt and protect your text files. It also packs a bunch of tools that you can use to make your text files safe and secure. This tool can process both of your newly created text files and existing text files. For new text files, you can use the Unicode editor to input your text and then you key in your encryption password in the empty password field. Once you are done, just click the save the button to save your new text file as .TXT or .ECU. This ensures that no one else will be able to open and view the contents of your text file unless they can decrypt your file using the correct password.

Pros

• Simple and easy to use
• Neat UI with properly labelled options
• Fast and hassle-free encryption – you can use a secure encryption password to protect your text files (uses Blowfish algorithm)
• The Unicode text editor has all of the standard tools and options that you need to create and edit your text files – ex. word wrap, font, font size, font style, cut, copy, paste, find, find next, select all, etc.
• Fully equipped with tools that you can use to make your text files safe and secure – ex. on-screen keyboard, password analyser, .ECU file browser, secure delete, encode text, decode text, etc.
• Supports drag and drop – just drag a file or folder to the padlocks to encrypt or decrypt an existing file
• Supports two themes – light and dark
• Configurable settings and user options
• Portable

Cons

• None that I can think of except for the fact that it doesn’t have a built-in strong password generator

Discussion

Secure Edit proves to be a great choice for users who are currently seeking for a better alternative to their current text editor. With this tool, you can secure both of your new text files and existing text files. This tool also features a neat and easy to use user interface with properly labelled tools and options.

With Secure Edit, you can either choose to encrypt a new text file or encrypt an existing text file. The process for encrypting a new text file is simple and it is very similar to creating a regular text file. You get to type or input the text on the text editor and you can even change the font, font size and font style. It’s just that with this tool, you are allowed to put a secure encryption password into your text file. You basically need to generate a strong password that cannot be easily cracked. You then place your password on the empty password field and once you are done, just click the “Save” button then save your file as .ecu or .txt.

As for your existing files, you can just locate them from your file directory then simply drag them into the “Encrypt File” icon (the one that looks like a lock). If you want to open your encrypted text files, just drag them into the “Decrypt File” icon. Just remember that you must enter the correct encryption password first and you must also check the “Toolbox” icon in the toolbar in order for you to view the “encrypt” and “decrypt” icons.

What I like about this tool is that it is pretty convenient to use. It is also portable so you do not need to install it to your computer. It’s also very stable and it can easily encrypt and decrypt your files within just a matter of seconds. So far, I haven’t encountered any serious issues with this tool. It basically does what it is intended to do. It’s just that it could have been better if also has a built-in strong password generator.

Conclusion and Download Link

Secure Edit for Windows is a great alternative for your current text editor. It’s fast, reliable and secure. It also uses Blowfish algorithm to encrypt your text files so you can definitely rely on it. Just don’t expect that it can do something that is already way beyond what it is supposed to do — it only works with .txt and .ecu files. Check out Secure Edit if you want or need the functionality it provides.

Price: Free

Version reviewed: 2.3

Supported OS: Windows XP, Vista, 7, and 8

Download size: 2.63MB

VirusTotal malware scan results:

Is it portable? Yes

Secure Edit homepage