🔐 LockBytes v1.0.0 — First Production Release

Secure. Private. USB-Based.

LockBytes is a Windows desktop application designed to protect your files using strong encryption and a USB-based vault system.

LockBytes is designed to work locally on your computer. You do not need an internet connection for normal file encryption, decryption, or vault access.

Internet connectivity is used only for optional features such as encrypted recovery/backup synchronization and application update checks.

✨ What's Included

🔐 Strong File Encryption

AES-256-GCM authenticated encryption
Secure password-based key derivation using Argon2id
Integrity protection to help detect unauthorized modification or corruption
Chunk-based processing designed to handle large files
Secure encryption and decryption workflows

🔑 USB-Based Vault Security

Register a USB storage device as your LockBytes vault
Vault credentials are protected using cryptographic key derivation
Access to protected vault data requires the appropriate security credentials and registered USB device
Vault metadata and security information are managed by the application
Vault integrity and synchronization information is maintained to help detect inconsistencies

🛡️ Password Protection

LockBytes uses separate security credentials for different purposes, including:

Vault Password
App Lock Password
Recovery credentials where configured

Keep your passwords and recovery information safe.

If required security material is permanently lost, access to encrypted data may become permanently unavailable.

☁️ Optional Recovery & Backup

LockBytes can optionally connect to the user's own Google account for recovery-related backup synchronization.

Recovery is optional
Normal encryption and decryption do not require internet access
Recovery data is stored using the configured recovery system
Google Drive is a third-party service and is subject to Google's availability and policies
Recovery requires the required recovery credentials and USB recovery information

LockBytes does not require a cloud account for normal local use.

📁 `.buri` Protected Files

LockBytes uses its own protected file format for encrypted vault data.

When file association is enabled during installation, .buri files can be associated with LockBytes and opened through the application.

🔄 Vault Synchronization & Integrity

LockBytes includes vault synchronization and integrity mechanisms designed to help maintain consistency between local vault information and supported recovery/backup data.

🚫 Offline-First Operation

LockBytes is designed to operate locally.

Internet is NOT required for:

Encrypting files
Decrypting files
Accessing the local vault
Using the main desktop application
Working with locally available protected data

Internet may be required for:

Optional recovery/backup synchronization
Application update checks
Other features that explicitly require an online service

⚠️ Important: Windows Security Warning

LockBytes is currently not digitally code-signed.

Because LockBytes is distributed independently and the Windows executable is currently not signed with a trusted code-signing certificate, Windows may display a security warning when you try to run the installer.

You may see a message such as:

Windows protected your PC

or a warning indicating that Windows cannot verify the publisher.

If you downloaded LockBytes from the official GitHub release:

Start the LockBytes installer.
If Windows displays the Windows protected your PC warning, select More info.
Review the application name and publisher information.
If you trust the downloaded release, select Run anyway.
Continue with the LockBytes installation wizard.

After LockBytes is installed, you normally do not need to repeat this process every time you launch the application.

Important

Only bypass a Windows warning when you have obtained LockBytes from a source you trust and have verified that the installer is the expected release.

A future release may be digitally signed with a trusted code-signing certificate, which should provide Windows with stronger publisher verification.

🔒 Important Security Recommendations

Before protecting important files with LockBytes:

Keep your registered USB device safe.
Keep your Vault Password secure.
Keep your App Lock Password secure.
Store recovery codes/ (PRC) / (VRC) /securely.
Do not delete or manually modify LockBytes vault files.
Keep independent backups of important files.
Keep important recovery information backed up securely.
Do not share passwords, keys, or recovery credentials.
Do not rely on LockBytes as your only backup of important data.

If required credentials or recovery material are lost, encrypted data may become permanently inaccessible.

LockBytes is a security tool, but no software can guarantee protection against every possible threat. A compromised computer, malware, keyloggers, hardware failure, USB failure, account compromise, accidental deletion, or other external problems may affect your data or security.

💻 System Requirements

Operating System

Windows 10
Windows 11
64-bit Windows recommended

Hardware

USB storage device for USB-based vault functionality
Sufficient local storage for the application and protected files

📦 Download

🧪 First Production Release

This is the first production release of LockBytes:

Version: 1.0.0
Release type: Production / Stable
Platform: Windows
Architecture: 64-bit Windows
Developer: Rahul Gupta

This release represents the first public production version of LockBytes.

📜 Legal & Documentation

The LockBytes installer includes the applicable License and Terms of Use.

Users should review the license, Terms of Use, and security information before using LockBytes to protect important data.

🙏 Thank You

Thank you for trying LockBytes.

LockBytes is built with the goal of giving users a simple way to protect sensitive files while keeping normal file-encryption workflows local and under the user's control.

LockBytes — Secure your files. Keep control of your data.

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