ToriComparison
Ways to make a password-protected ZIP and open it again later, side by side.
| Vault-ZIP | Windows built-in ZIP | Typical compression tools | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Encryption and passwords | |||
| Make a password-protected ZIP | AES-256 only | Cannot | Most can; some default to the old ZipCrypto method |
| Keep a record of passwords | Recorded automatically in an encrypted ledger | No | Mostly no (you keep track) |
| Open a ZIP you made | With the ledger's password, no typing | Type it each time | Type it each time |
| Showing a password | Only after an identity check; can be kept off screen sharing | — | Varies |
| Passwords on the command line | Standard input only (not in logs or process lists) | — | Often passed as an argument |
| Creating | |||
| Check after writing | Every file read back (on by default) | No | Many have a manual test |
| Existing files | Never overwritten (" (2)" added) | Asks, then replaces | Varies |
| Extracting | |||
| Recognising the format | By content | ZIP; recent Windows 11 also 7z, RAR, tar (by extension) | Mostly by extension and content |
| Names that write outside the folder | Stopped before writing | (not tested) | Most guard against it; versions differ |
| Invisible characters disguising an extension | Replaced and reported | Kept as they are | Varies |
| ZIP bombs | Stopped by counting what is written | (not tested) | Varies |
| Old Japanese (Shift_JIS) names | Recognised automatically | Read on Japanese Windows | Most Japanese tools handle them |
| macOS extra files (__MACOSX) | Left out (can be changed) | Extracted as they are | Varies |
| Build and network | |||
| Main language | Rust (some components in C/C++) | — | Mostly C or C++ |
| Automatic connections (update checks, usage reports) | None | Updated as part of Windows | Many check for updates automatically |
| Ads and tracking | None | — | Depends on the tool (some free editions show ads) |
| Published fuzzing results | Yes | — | Varies |
| Component list (SBOM) | Included | — | Still rare |
| In organisations | |||
| Administrator rules | No ZIP without a password, checks always on, and more; Group Policy, Intune | — | Varies |
| Price | Free for individuals and education; organisations 1,000 yen per PC (one-off) | Part of Windows | Free to paid |
The "typical compression tools" column describes what is common among widely used tools; it differs by tool and version, so check your own tool's documentation. "Windows built-in ZIP" is Windows 11 File Explorer; "(not tested)" marks what we have not tried yet.
What Vault-ZIP is not for
- Creating RAR or 7z files (Vault-ZIP creates ZIP only; it extracts the others).
- Hiding the file names inside a ZIP (the format does not allow it; see the end of Built with care).
- Mac and iPhone (for now it runs on Windows, Linux and Android).
The mechanisms in detail: Built with care. Tested compatibility and performance: Features and specs.