13-Year-Old Developer Builds NTFS-Level File Locker in Python After Four Rebuilds

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A 13-year-old solo developer has released ATLOCK v4.0, a Windows file security tool built in Python that operates at the OS level using NTFS ACL manipulation rather than superficial methods like file renaming or hiding. The project went through four complete rebuilds after earlier versions were found to be insufficiently secure, including a vault module that previously used XOR obfuscation instead of real encryption. Version 4.0 now uses Fernet encryption with AES-128-CBC and HMAC, along with PBKDF2 key derivation, to protect files without requiring a password for the lock action. The suite includes five modules covering screen lockdown, a secure vault, and an intruder camera capture feature, all packaged into a standalone Windows executable. The project is open source and available on GitHub under the developer's one-person outfit, Akhouri Systems.

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