There are many alternatives to protect our files and folders, one of them is to put a password to a USB memory, but what about the files on the computer? Well, today we show you how to encrypt or encrypt folders and files on my Windows PC 10.
What is encrypting a file?
This is a function that enables hide in plain sight a file, that can only be entered via a password or a specific set of steps. There are different types of encryption, but in general it is based on making a file unreadable for people who do not have the password or do not know the correct viewing procedure.
The Windows encryption tool (EFS) is based on the NFTS encryption system (Non-Fungible Tokens) which enables you to protect documents stored on hard drive partitions.
What is the purpose of encrypting files?
If you have very important files, possibly encryption option is something you need to consider. It is one of the multiple protection methods that we have inside Windows, super functional if you want to prevent your files from being copied to another PC.
Using the method we showed before, when trying to open the encrypted files, a warning will be displayed that will prohibit it. Therefore, to open the encrypted files, it will be necessary to have the Encryption key that we have previously created.
Encryption types
There are two types of encryption: symmetrical and asymmetrical.
- The symmetric encryption use the same key to encrypt and decrypt the file. This option is the simplest, because data can be entered quickly.
- On the other hand we have asymmetric encryption, which uses two different keys; one to encrypt (public key) and another to decipher (private key), used for files that require higher security.
Steps to encrypt files and folders on Windows PC 10
Windows has a basic encryption system with which it is possible to protect your information. Whatever the case, This will only be valid for computers that have the Windows operating system 10. In other words, if a file encrypted with this system is copied, can be opened from other operating systems, but windows notes.
- To perform this configuration, simply go to the place where the file is located or folder you want to encrypt.
- Once there, right click on the file you want to encrypt and select the option “Properties”.
- When inside the folder file properties, go to section “Advanced”Located at the bottom.
- Advanced attributes will be displayed, this time you just have to click on “Encrypt content to protect data"And click accept.
- When i do this, a warning screen will be displayed, there you have to choose whether you want to encrypt only the file or encrypt the file in the folder. Depending on what you want to do, select the option that suits you best and click “To accept“
- You will see that the notification area shows the notice to make a backup copy of the certificate and the encryption key. You must select “Copy now”.
- Press next until the password section appears. Once it shows, enable the use of password by clicking the option. Then provide the password you want to use and then click “next”.
- Now you need to give a name to the certificate key you have added, just click “Examine”, Find the place where you want to save the password and write the name that you will give it. After that, click on “next“And later on the button”Finalize”.
Please note that what is shown above will only work for copying files to other computers. Even so, there is also the opportunity to protect folders and files with a password with Folder Password Lock, functional if you don't want them to see information on your computer.
The best programs to encrypt files
Even though Windows has its own encryption tool that allows us to encrypt files quickly and easily, we will probably need a tool with more functions or with more security.
BitLocker
It is a free application that we can find in Windows Vista capable of encrypt a hard drive or parts of it to prevent information theft. It works using an AES encryption algorithm in CBC mode with a password of 128 bits available.
VeraCrypt
It's a multiplatform software that gives us access to file encryption, removable USB drives, folders and even complete hard drives. Use different encryption algorithms like AES, Serpent and TwoFish and even combinations of these.
crypt Issue
Another cross-platform application that works with the encryption algorithm ‘Advanced encryption standard‘, what guarantees us maximum security in file encryption. When applying an encryption of 256 bits, enables you to encrypt files quickly and efficiently.
What You Should Know About File and Folder Encryption in Windows
There are several alternatives to encrypt in Windows, the one we showed before is the most basic of all the methods and will be functional so that your files are not copied to other computers. Either way, as we pointed out before, is encrypted it won't work if the file is copied to another OS.
In other words, if the file is copied to an Android or any other mobile, the most likely thing is that your information can be seen, so the above method will not work. For this case, it would be best to use methods like activation and use of Bitlocker protection, that could help you in this procedure.
On the other hand, there are also very interesting protection measures in some devices, as the secure folder of Samsung Galaxy mobiles, but this is something different from what we discussed before.
