SmartDecryptor is a free Windows file encryption program, its interface is simple but easy to use, you only have to select the file you would like encrypt, enter a password twice and click on the padlock logo to convert your data into a ciphered .sme file, multiple files can be encrypted at once selecting them together. The decryption process is carried out in a different tab and it is equally simple, you can use the interface to select the file or double click on an encrypted file and SmartDecryptor will automatically launch. The default encryption algorithm is Blowfish but this can be changed in settings to the standard US Government algorithm AES.
File encryption SmartDecryptor
You can also create self-extracting encrypted files to send to other people not using this tool, but those files will have a .exe extension which is often used by viruses, not normally trusted by anyone and blocked by a few email services like Gmail. For example, my Avast antivirus marked SmartDecrypt self-decrypting files as suspicious, sending encrypted files with a .exe extension it is not a good idea even if it is possible, ideally, you should get your friends to use the same software to decrypt the data.
You can also wipe the source data after it has been encrypted by ticking a checkbox that says “Wipe source file“, wiping can be set to a very secure 7 or 3 passes US DoD standard, or a less secure but quicker zero characters overwriting. Regrettably, folders can not be encrypted, only single files. This program can be a good alternative to AxCrypt if you don’t mind trusting closed source software. The program will not fully protect you if your hard drive falls into the wrong hands because encrypted files temporary data will be found elsewhere, but it is fine to use SmartDecryptor to send or post an encrypted file on a file hosting service, there are better encryption tools like Truecrypt, however, it is good to have choices.