Encrypt Personal Data: Do you share your PC with other people and are you afraid that someone might spy on your files, putting your privacy at risk? Do you have important files on your office computer and are you afraid that they will end up in the wrong hands?
To have an answer to these questions and to better protect your data and your privacy, the solution is called encrypt or protect those files so that only the true owner is able to open them and read the content. But how to encrypt personal data ? Simple using one of the many programs to encrypt files.
How to encrypt personal data and make folders with important documents, images, videos andmoreinaccessible to unauthorized persons.
What does it mean to encrypt a file? Why is it useful to encrypt your important data Encrypting derives fromencryption,which is an operation that makes it possible to make any type of information such as photos, important documents, videos and so on unreadable and unrecognizable to unauthorized subjects.
If you are interested, take two minutes of your time and read the next paragraphs of this guide, I want to explainhow to encrypt files on your PC or folders with your personal data inside. Don’t worry because it’s not difficult, the operation is simpler than you think.
To encrypt files on your computer or files on an external drive such as USB sticks, external drives and so on, we useone of the best free encryption programscompatible for Windows and Mac that once installed on your computer allows you to encrypt any file ( text document, photo, video or an entire folder), withAES-256 encryption.
How to encrypt personal data (Windows / macOS)
The program to encrypt files I want to talk to you about isEncryptovery simple to use which thanks to its well-maintained interface just drag a file using a simpledrag and dropand a few mouse clicks to start encrypting files on your PC or Mac, but let’s see how it works.
In order to use Encrypto as a first step from your computer, start the browser connected to the program’s website, then click on theDownload for Windowsbutton if you are using the Windows operating system or pressDownload on the Mac App Storeif you are using the macOS operating system.
At the end of the download to install Encrypto on aWindowsPC click twice consecutively with the left mouse button on theEncryptoforWin.exefile then from the window that opens select theYesbutton then check theI accept The Terms of Servicethen click onNext> Install now.
To install Encrypto on macOS after pressing the Download on the Mac App Store button from the software website on the new Mac App Store page that has opened on your desktop, press the Get / Install button. If you are prompted, type in your Apple ID password and wait for the program download and installation procedure to be completed.
At this point, regardless of the operating system you are using, in the program window that has opened, press theNext> Next> Next buttonandSkipto start the main Encrypto screen.
At this point, drag the file or folder you want to encrypt inthe yellow Encryptowindow,then type a password in thePasswordfield to protect the file or the contents of the folder then press theEncrypt button.
When the operation is completed, press theSave Asbutton that appears and from the window that opens select the location in which to save the encrypted file or folder returned by the program via the path. Once encrypted and saved the file or folder on the PC, delete the original unencrypted one.
At this point, to open the file or folder encrypted by Encrypto it is very simple just double-click on the saved.cryptofile and once the software is started, type thepassword and press the Decrypt button.
Then press theSave As …button and through the window that opens select the location where to save the decrypted file or folder. To encrypt it again, repeat the procedure I explained earlier.
Encrypt personal data on Android
If you want to encrypt a file or folder on yourAndroidmobile device, no problem, just install theFile & Secure Folderapp, a sort of file manager that also integrates file and folder encryption functions.
After you have installed the File & Secure Folder app from the Google Play Store, start it from your Android smartphone or tablet by pressing theOpenbutton and from the first screen that appears, type a 4-digitPIN codetwice then write it down somewhere then press theOk button.
As a next step, type youremailin the appropriate field and then press theSavebutton.This step is essential as you need it for data recovery in case you forget the folder and file locker password.
At this point, from the list that appears, select a folder or a file then press your finger on thegreen lockiconlocated on the right side and from the small window that appears, tap theEncryptbuttonto encrypt the folder or file.
You will notice that the icon of the newly encrypted folder is surrounded by a chain and a padlock, to open it and be able to read the files inside it press on it with your finger and from the window that opens type thePINthen tap theDecryptbutton and the that’s it.
In conclusion
If you are reading this paragraph then it means that you have found this guide how to encrypt personal data interesting.