FileGriffon

FileGriffon — Free Download. File corruption detection

Silent data degradation is a real risk on any storage medium. A file can lose integrity without any error message or warning from the operating system. FileGriffon addresses this by monitoring drives, folders or individual files, called Vaults, and verifying their contents over time. It hashes every file with a secure algorithm, stores the results in a local database, and re-checks them on a set schedule or on demand. When a file changes without intervention, a notification is issued. The program also differentiates between files that are truly missing and those that were moved or renamed, preventing false alarms after folder reorganization. Additional capabilities include repairing damaged files with PAR2 parity data generated in advance, locating duplicate files across vaults, monitoring SMART drive health, running background scans with a tray icon and local web dashboard, and optionally encrypting its own database. All operations run on the local machine, with no account and no cloud transfer of file contents, names or paths.

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Download FileGriffon (Official links)
File size: 40.5 MB
The latest version of FileGriffon is: 1.2.0
Operating system: Windows
Languages: English
Developer: FileGriffon
Price: $0.00 USD (Freemium product ($9 or $15 per year or free version))
  • Vault creation and monitoring. A vault is the basic unit of protection in FileGriffon. It can be a single folder, an entire drive, a NAS share, or one specific irreplaceable file. After a vault is added, the program records the state of every file inside it. No special formatting or preparation of the storage medium is required. Pro users can create an unlimited number of vaults and monitor whole drives, while the free tier covers one vault of any size for an unlimited period.
  • Cryptographic file hashing. For each file in a vault, FileGriffon computes a secure hash value and stores it in a local database. This hash acts as a digital fingerprint of the file contents. On subsequent scans, the hash is recomputed and compared with the stored value. Any mismatch indicates that the file has changed since the last verified state, which is the core mechanism for detecting silent corruption or bit rot.
  • Scheduled and on-demand scanning. Scans can run automatically in the background on a cadence defined by the operator, or they can be started manually at any time. The program runs as a background daemon with a system tray icon, so monitoring continues without requiring the main window to be open. A local web dashboard provides a visual overview of scan results, vault status and detected issues.
  • Silent corruption detection. Bit rot and other forms of silent data degradation occur when storage media lose integrity without reporting an error. FileGriffon detects this by comparing current file hashes against previously recorded ones. When a file's contents change without any user action, the discrepancy is flagged on the dashboard. This means degradation is identified during the next scan, rather than when the file is eventually opened and found to be damaged.
  • Missing versus moved file distinction. A file that no longer exists at its recorded path may have been deleted, or it may have been moved or renamed. FileGriffon analyzes the vault to distinguish between these cases. A reorganized folder does not appear as data loss. Genuinely missing files are reported separately from files that were simply relocated, which reduces false alarms and makes the reported status of a vault more accurate.
  • PAR2 parity repair. Before damage occurs, FileGriffon can generate PAR2 parity data for files in a vault. If corruption is later detected, this parity data is used to reconstruct the damaged portions and restore the file. The free tier includes Light redundancy, while Pro offers the full range of PAR2 redundancy tiers. The repair process sets the damaged original aside next to the fixed file instead of deleting it, and removal of that copy requires explicit confirmation.
  • Duplicate file finder. The built-in Duplicate Finder identifies exact copies of files sitting within the monitored vaults. It surfaces these duplicates through the dashboard so they can be reviewed and managed. This helps reduce unnecessary storage consumption and brings order to collections that contain repeated content. Additional file organization tools are planned for future releases.
  • SMART drive health monitoring. Drive Info, available in Pro, reads SMART data directly from storage hardware. This provides information about the physical condition of a drive, including indicators that a disk may be starting to fail. Warnings about degrading drives appear before a complete failure occurs, giving time to move data to another medium. Basic drive health monitoring is included in the free tier.
  • Alerts and notifications. When corruption, missing files, moved files or drive health problems are detected, FileGriffon reports them through the dashboard. Pro adds email and ntfy alerts, so notifications can reach the operator even when the dashboard is not being watched. The tray icon also reflects the current state of the program and its vaults.
  • Local database encryption. FileGriffon stores its hashes, file records and configuration in a local database. This database can be encrypted to protect the information it holds. The program is not a file encryption tool and does not encrypt the user's files. The encryption option applies only to FileGriffon's own database, safeguarding the records that describe the monitored files.
  • Local-only operation and licensing. Scanning, hashing and the database all run on the user's machine. No file, filename or folder structure is uploaded. A daily license check-in carries a one-way hashed machine fingerprint, the FileGriffon version and the operating system family. Usage telemetry is separate, disabled by default, and sends only anonymized counts if the operator opts in. The free tier covers one vault of any size, scheduled scanning, database encryption, corruption and move detection, PAR2 repair at Light redundancy, and basic drive health monitoring. Pro adds unlimited vaults, whole-drive monitoring, advanced SMART health data, email and ntfy alerts, and the full PAR2 tiers. A 14-day Pro trial is available inside the application without a credit card.

FileGriffon is developed by a small independent team focused on data integrity for single-drive and small-scale storage setups. The project has been in active development since the early 2020s, with the first public releases appearing in the mid-2020s. The program is written in Rust, a systems programming language chosen for memory safety, performance and reliable low-level file handling.

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