After a quick download and installation, Rohos prompts you to create your first virtual disk. It fills in default options, such as the drive letter to use, the size of the disk and the type of encryption, but you can choose different options. Rohos uses either AES256 or Blowfish encryption.

Once the virtual disk iscreated, you can double-click the file used to store the virtual drive or open the program interface and choose Connect disk to access your files. Once you enter the password you chose when you created the drive, it will show up in Windows Explorer under its own drive letter. To store files, you can drag and drop in Explorer, or save files directly into the virtual drive from programs such as Microsoft Word.

Once you're done with a drive, disconnect it by right-clicking the program's icon in the system tray, or choose the Disconnect option in the program interface. Rohos Disk Encryption will automatically remove any shortcuts you create to files within the virtual drive when you disconnect, and put them back when you reconnect the drive.

If you want to be particularly sneaky, you can hide encrypted data within an .avi, .mp3 or .mpg media file, and access it only with a password. You can also create a portable encrypted drive on a USB drive.

Rohos Disk Encryption offers a free 30-day trial. Rohos Mini Drive offers the USB drive feature for free.

--Erik Larkin