A picture worth 50 words. NAME and DOWNLOAD LINK: 4T Hit Mail Privacy Lite DESCRIPTION: Send and receive private data securely in images. SIZE: 964KB self-executing, 930KB zipped. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: Windows 9x/Me/NT/2000/XP; Pentium processor; 1MB free hard disk space. COMMENT: 4T Hit Mail Privacy Lite is a simple example of steganography (there's a USD5 word). The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing defines that as, "Hiding a secret message within a larger one in such a way that others can not discern the presence or contents of the hidden message." While many take a dim view of any form of encryption during this time of terrorism, 4T Hit Mail Privacy Lite is relatively harmless when compared to the near-military grade power of PGP. And it's just plain fascinating. The major advantage of steganography over many other forms of encryption is it doesn't look the part. If you've ever received bulletins from Microsoft they have probably included a PGP signature line: -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGP 7.1 iQEVAwUBPe5ejo0ZSRQxA/UrAQGGCwf/fCc/EakgoYYoT0CHxlWV/0xGi7N6/Dr6 d/eEhu8fYujZ2flicJOGD96wOBqhTJoabMNzMQVLQMswgRvvVLewnXolR6EhdGTN AX+XuNYizNOdhJuc5GYHmOl6K9Dr3DnBObXXBf0YqDcdmHssx8XJ5sHKcf/eP/6K t9HevpcNOamjtT20rvu0mcKkrFxb5uwGXWfFl+nHW7faPOp56JTyoKHkQjtLiq1c 33TeDGJOz3Gm6uLZU0juJ9UyNh0GqN2UqjrYn7sMRTOR1si0O/Qr16ZV6rD8Rhn8 V6pH36kXsj7CRVkYlXkEaFnmohy9fghkXTPLTG/DBxqupoI923ywhg== =S3ww -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- Just viewing that jumble of text tells the reader there's a hidden message. But who would question a picture of your daughter or grandmother? Pre-encryption. Post-encryption. 4T Hit Mail Privacy Lite is easy to use: just browse your disk for a photo (it accepts most graphic formats), create a case-sensitive password, enter your message, save the resulting picture as a .zip, .hit or .bmp file. Size-wise, we recommend .zip or .hit. You can drag and drop the encrypted picture into an email message which opens when you click the pencil icon. Unlike the very secure public key encryption programs, you must communicate your password to the recipient - a weak link. The recipient opens the picture within 4T Hit Mail Privacy Lite, switches to "View Mode," enters the password, then reads your compelling message. You're limited to 250 characters, so elaborate terrorism plans are out. On the other hand, if you're having a tryst, making rude comments about your boss, passing along juicy gossip, this program will do just fine. Should you wish to read the message embedded in our example, the password is Pocket Internet (what a surprise). RATING: Fun for those who like toys.