The Protected Folder is a production-ready desktop security application built with Python and customized using an advanced CustomTkinter modern UI framework. It provides individuals and corporate teams with a highly secure environment to encrypt, seal, and lock down sensitive directories with a mandatory master password.
Key Cryptographic & System Capabilities:
- Military-Grade Streaming Encryption: Powered by the industry-standard AES-256-CTR streaming cipher architecture, allowing fast processing of massive files via optimized binary chunk allocations.
- PBKDF2 Key Derivation Stack: Leverages highly secure PBKDF2HMAC with SHA-256 hashing iterated 100,000 times combined with unique salts and nonces to stop brute-force attacks dead in their tracks.
- Automated Secure Logging: Features a built-in background SQLite engine that safely archives localized metadata logs, timestamps, and active password maps for secure administration.
- Integrated Non-Freezing UI Threading: Implements a dual-thread runtime environment to prevent system windows from freezing or hanging during large file batch procedures.
- Responsive Modern UI: Built with custom fluid animation dark-themed elements, complete with dynamic live percentage loading counters and precise status progress monitoring tracking.


-------------APP PATH------------
The-Protected-Folder/
|
+--- Marketplace-Assets/         # Store fronts, display mockups and banner nodes

|    |--- cover_banner.png       # Master design banner asset (Canva Template Layout)
|    --- store_thumbnail.png    # Store card cover layout (Flaticon Asset integration)
|
--- Source-Code/                # Operational Code Core (Target Deployment Directory)
     |--- app.py                 # Main execution script (GUI, Threading, and Crypto modules)
     |--- secure_log.db          # Auto-generated database tracking encryption history (SQLite3)
     |--- requirements.txt       # Unified library dependencies bundle file
     |--- reviewer-notes.html    # Compliance validation manual for platform audits
     |--- Documentation.html     # System manual and cryptographic metrics layout

--- License Terms & Usage Guidelines ---
1. Regular License:
- Permitted Use: Allows installation, compiling, and deployment of the desktop application on a single (1) production machine or client workstation.
- Restrictions: Strict prohibition on copying, reselling, or distributing the core source files to other repositories or public markets.

2. Extended License:
- Permitted Use: Allows compilation, modification, and deployment on unlimited developer projects or client systems. You are permitted to integrate this encryption core layer as a security module within larger corporate software ecosystems.
- Restrictions: The item cannot be resold "as-is" as a standalone competing encryption tool on open script markets.

- Modern Dark-Themed GUI powered by the premium CustomTkinter framework
- Advanced Military-Grade AES-256-CTR Streaming Cipher Engine
- PBKDF2 Key Derivation Protocol with 100,000 Hashing Iterations
- High-Performance Cryptographic Salt & Nonce Asset Isolation
- Complete Background Threading Architecture to prevent UI freezing
- Embedded SQLite3 Secure Logging Database for local encryption history
- Scrollable Historical Log Window with auto-aligned alignment matrices
- Dynamic Live Progress Monitoring Bars with precise numeric percentage updates
- Automatic source file wiping upon secure compilation success
- Multi-Layer input validation guards and system alert boxes

- Operating System: Windows 10/11/8
- Python Version: 3.8 or higher

[CRITICAL - REQUIRED LIBRARIES]
The desktop software application relies on the following core Python packages which must be installed:
- customtkinter (Modern UI styling layer)
- cryptography (Provides secure AES-256 encryption & PBKDF2 parameters)
- sqlite3 (Included natively in Python for database historical logging)

[FIRST-TIME EXECUTION WARNING]
- Dependencies Compilation: Before running the application for the very first time, make sure all packages from 'requirements.txt' are fully updated inside your local terminal interface.
- Execution Environment: Ensure 'icon.ico' remains inside the active root directory node upon launching the main script to prevent window icon loading exceptions.

--- Pre-Deployment Review ---
* IMPORTANT: Before initiating installation, please review the 'reviewer-notes.txt' file located in the root bundle which contains quick configuration paths and developer remarks.

--- Local Software Execution ---
1. Extract the main product ZIP bundle to your local developer environment directory.
2. Open your terminal/command prompt and navigate into the target workspace node: cd The-Protected-Folder/Source-Code
3. Install all required cryptographic and UI dependencies: pip install -r requirements.txt
4. Fire up the software app engine: python app.py
5. The application window will prompt you immediately. Use the 'Browse Folder...' button to select any path on your drive.
6. Input a robust mandatory security password, and click 'Encrypt Folder' to safely lock all files.
7. Click 'Open Secure Log' at the top left corner of the interface to view historical databases and review credentials at any time.