Microsoft releases free encrypted folder app

Microsoft has released a free application that allows users to create an encrypted and password-protected folder. Microsoft Private Folder 1.0 works on Windows XP and Media Center Editions with Service Pack 2 and is meant to provide a consumer-level of protection. Microsoft warns that it is "not intended to provide security against hackers." Interested users can download Private Folder from Microsoft's website which requires Internet Explorer and "Genuine Windows Validation". A reboot is required after the install. After the reboot, Private Folder requires users to make up a password, but unfortunately only alpha numeric characters are allowed in the password.L33tdawg: So okay, it's 'not meant to provide protection against hackers' -- so who is it supposed to protect against? The clueless? You don't need encryption for that...