If you need to encrypt files and folders on your machine, we recommend using one of the following apps:. The programs we have listed above all function slightly differently. However, they all have walkthroughs and guides on their websites to help you encrypt your data. Thus, you will need to do a little research into each program to use that specific encryption system to secure your data.
On the whole, however, once installed you should be able to locate the files and folders that you want to secure in Windows file manager, and then right click on those files to select the program you wish to encrypt the files with.
Encrypted files and folders are much more secure because a password is needed to access their contents. If you store your cryptographic key or encryption password in an unencrypted file on your computer, a hacker could potentially steal it. If a hacker installs a keylogger on your device, they could steal your password when you enter it to decrypt a file.
When you use EFS to encrypt a file, your computer may still store an unencrypted version of that file in its temporary memory. The solution is to delete your temporary files to ensure that the unencrypted version is not still lying around. Depending on where you live, legislation may exist that forces you to hand over your encryption key to the government. If you are served a warrant, it may compel you to hand over access to your encrypted documents in order to comply with an investigation.
If you have an external hard drive then you should know that there is a way to encrypt the files on this device. Check out our how to encrypt an external hard drive page information about how to do this.
The software we have recommended in this article lets you encrypt the data on your local hard drive. However, you may also want to encrypt your internet traffic to gain digital privacy online. This allows your ISP to keep records of all the websites you visit.
It also allows your ISP to gather your metadata. Local network administrators can also analyze and track your internet traffic when you use public WiFi hotspots, and both ISPs and WiFi providers may collect data about you and share it with the government. Looking for something? Written by Ray Walsh. What should I encrypt? Encrypting in Windows using built in Encrypting File System The easiest and fastest way to encrypt files securely on your hard drive is to use Windows native encryption tool.
Plug your USB thumb drive into your Windows computer. Click the EFS icon in the system tray. Click Back up now recommended. On the Certificate Export Wizard click Next. Leave the default settings on the Export File Format screen and click Next. Click Next. On the next screen click Browse and select your USB thumb drive. Click Save.
Click Finish. Click OK. Remember Once the backup key has been exported, keep the USB drive safe. This is a free open source encryption tool that uses a strong AES cipher and robust SHA for the handshake algorithm. Built into Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise, BitLocker Device Encryption does exactly what it sounds like — it encrypts all the storage devices in your system.
Happily for us, there is a great alternative available. Called VeraCrypt , it addresses all of the drawbacks we just saw:. Without getting into the OpenSource vs Proprietary software argument that plagues the computer world, from our perspective, FOSS software is generally considered more secure, and of course is free to use.
Once VeraCrypt is installed, all you need to do is enter your VeraCrypt password whenever you start the computer. While installing VeraCrypt is much simpler than the alternative, there is more to it than just launching an installer and pressing Okay a few times. And if you mess up, there is a chance you will lose files or even access to the entire disk drive. We suggest you read through the instructions that follow before starting the process.
If you are not confident you can complete the steps shown, or if you have a bad habit of losing important passwords, it is better to skip this type of encryption. The Wizard displays the Number of Operating Systems window. Is your system dual-boot or multi-boot you can start the system in various operating systems? If so, select Multi-boot.
Otherwise, select Single-boot. Click the Next button to continue. The Wizard displays the Encryption Options window. Both are widely-used algorithms that will serve you well. The Wizard displays the Password window. It is important to choose strong passwords if you want your system to be secure. Many password manager programs such as our top pick, Bitwarden include password generators that can help you create a strong one. Note: VeraCrypt will hassle you about it if you choose a password less than 20 characters long.
The Wizard displays the Collecting Random Data window. You will be required to move your mouse around randomly within the window. This additional randomness increases the strength of your encryption keys. Once the randomness meter at the bottom of the window is full you can click the Next button to continue. The Wizard displays the Keys Generated window.
There is nothing you need to do here except click the Next button to continue. The explanation for this appears in the following image. If you want to live dangerously you can set the Skip Rescue Disk verification checkbox to avoid being forced to create a physical rescue disk.
Unless you selected the Skip Rescue Disk verification option in the last step you are now going to be forced to create a physical rescue disk and allow VeraCrypt to inspect it to see if you did it right. Remember finding a spare USB drive a little while ago? It is time to insert that USB drive into your system. Now navigate to the location where VeraCrypt stored its Rescue Disk in the previous step. Once that is done, click Next so VeraCrypt can check your work.
Remove the USB drive from the computer and click Next. The Wizard displays the Wipe Mode window. Make sure the Wipe Mode is set to None fastest and click Next to continue. We are getting there. The Wizard now displays the System Encryption Pretest window.
The image below explains what will happen in detail. Click Test to see how it goes. Note that VeraCrypt will probably ask you to print some more warnings and emergency procedures and the like before it actually does the test, so be ready for that.
Assuming everything went well, you should see the following window once you have successfully restarted your computer and passed the system encryption pretest. Encrypting important information is one of the best things you can do to protect yourself from everyone who is trying so hard to get their hands on your personal information. In this guide we covered techniques that Windows 10 users can use to encrypt individual files, folders, and entire drives on their Windows systems.
Masthead credit: eamesBot. Before we go further, here are a couple of points to keep in mind: With Windows 7 now unsupported, and Windows 8 best forgotten as fast as possible, this guide deals only with the Windows 10 operating system. If you are encrypting a file to share with someone else and need to give them the password, you should not send them that password using the same method that you send them the file.
For example, if you plan to email them the file, it would be a big security risk to also email them the password. Ideally give them the password over the telephone, a secure messaging app like Signal or Wickr Me. At the very least send it via a different email service than the one you will use for the file. Folder encryption Next up is folder level encryption.
If you move an EFS-encrypted file across a network, or send it with an email message, it becomes decrypted. Right-click the file or folder you want to encrypt. In the menu that appears, select Properties. In the General tab of Properties, find and click the Advanced button it is circled in red in the following image. In the Advanced Attributes dialog box that appears, set the Encrypt contents to secure data checkbox.
Then empty the trash. Method 3. If you are using Windows Home Edition, you will need third-party software to encrypt your files. This is the website to AxCrypt, which is a highly rated open-source third-party encryption program. The Windows free version has the ability to encrypt and decrypt files. Download and install AxCrypt. After visiting the AxCrypt website, use the following steps to download and install AxCrypt: Click the green text that says Download.
Scroll down and click AxCryptSetup. Double-click to open the AxCrypt install file in your web browser or "Downloads" folder. Click the checkbox to agree to the license terms and conditions and click Install.
Open AxCrypt. Enter your email and click Ok. A verification code will be sent to your email. Retrieve the verification code from your email. Open the email and look for the 6-digit verification code.
You may need to check your email spam or junk folder. Enter the verification code. Create a password and click Ok. Then click Ok at the bottom of the Window. AxCrypt will rate the strength of your password as you enter it. As long as you are signed into AxCrypt, you do not need to enter your password to encrypt or decrypt files. Use as strong a password as possible.
Enter your password and click Ok. You are required to log into AxCrypt before you can use it. Warning: If you forget your password, you will not be able to open your encrypted files and folders.
You may want to write down your password and store it in a safe location. Click Start Trial or Not Now. AxCrypt offers you a free trial of Premium services. Right-click a file or folder you want to Encrypt. You can use File Explorer to navigate to a file or folder you want to encrypt. Right-click the file or folder you want to encrypt to display a context menu to the right.
Hover over AxCrypt. This option is available in the context menu once AxCrypt is installed. This displays a submenu to the right. This displays a pop-up AxCrypt notification. If you are already signed in to AxCrypt, you don't need to enter your password. If you are not signed in to your password, you will be required to enter your password and click Ok. This converts all files in the folder into encrypted.
To open a. Click Decrypt and enter your password to decrypt it. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. If you lose your password or encryption key, you will not be able to decrypt your files. Make sure you write down or backup your passwords and store them in a safe location. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. If your encrypted files contain any illegal activity, law enforcement may order you to decrypt the files. You Might Also Like How to.
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