PKZIP and SecureZIP: Low-Carb Diets for Your Files Cutting Files Down to Size Wayne Kawamoto
When you need to cut files down to size, PKWARE's PKZIP and SecureZIP can trim the fat, cut to the bone, and downsize in ways that Donald Trump can only dream about. PKZIP is the compression utility for every man, woman, and child, while SecureZIP offers a premium flavor with increased security and management capabilities. Both offer solid feature-sets, are easy to use, and do a great job of conserving hard disk space and reducing file sizes for e-mailing and uploading.
At their most basic levels, PKZIP and SecureZIP allow you to work with archives — electronic "suitcases" that hold smaller, compressed versions of
other files. The programs squeeze files into the ZIP (define) format, and extract and
decompress files from archives when you need them again. Both programs work with files from multiple folders, create and name folders within archives to
organize files, and encrypt files for security. SecureZIP acts as PKZIP on steroids, with advanced encryption and secure archive management features.
The latest version, v8, is not a major upgrade but rather a refinement. A new graphical user interface offers improved wizards that guide you through the most common PKZIP functions, while customizable toolbars let you configure the look and feel of the program according to your preferences. The result is a PKZIP that's easier than ever to use.
Another new addition in version 8 is the ability to password-encrypt files with a single click. A new administrative lockdown feature lets an administrator choose settings that will be locked across a user group to ensure that compression and password-based encryption practices are consistent through an organization. There's also file name encryption for protecting file names from being viewed in the archive, providing an extra layer of privacy.
Going beyond PKZIP, SecureZIP offers new integration with LDAP-enabled directories, which means that with this release, when you send e-mail attachments or encrypt documents using SecureZIP, the program automatically locates certificates for users and requires no further interaction.
