When we have to exchange very important files or containing projects that nobody has to read (especially in the business sphere), it may be necessary to add an additional layer of protection, so that only those who have the right password can access the folder or protected space. This need can also be present in the home, when we need a PC space protected by a password that no one can access except the direct undersigned. If you think that encrypting a file is the stuff of secret agents, therefore very difficult to carry out, you are very wrong: in this guide we will show you the simple and safe methods to encrypt a file on a PC or on a modern smartphone (Android or iOS). The level of security achieved will allow you to exchange files safely knowing that, in the event of interception or if the file ends up in the wrong hands, no one will be able to open it without the password chosen by us.
How to encrypt a file on Windows and Mac
To encrypt a file on Windows and Mac we can rely on two completely free programs such as 7-Zip and VeraCrypt. We will have to choose one of the two programs based on the result we want to obtain: if the file is to be shared with other users and must have an access password, we will have to use 7-Zip; if instead the encrypted file must not be seen by anyone and must remain hidden from everyone's eyes, we recommend using VeraCrypt.7-Zip
7-Zip is a compressed archives management program available for free and without the need for a license (as required by WinRAR for example). First install it on Windows by downloading the installer from the official page, start the installation and, once this phase is completed, open the 7-Zip program by looking for it from the Start menu. For Mac we can download the right file from here.From the program interface, we navigate within the folders of the computer (using the Up arrow next to the path entry field), select the file we want to encrypt then click the Add button.
A new window will now open in which to carry out all the necessary configurations: we activate the item Create self-extracting archive, we activate the item Encrypt the names of the files and finally enter the password in the two fields Enter password and Re- enter password ; after entering the password, click OK to start creating the protected archive. We can ignore the other entries in the window, since they are already configured properly for the purpose.
Note : we always keep this password in mind, as file recovery is practically impossible!
Now our file is encrypted and we can share it safely: only those who know the password will be able to access its content. The archive we created is also self-extracting, i.e. the presence of 7-Zip on the recipient's PC is not required in order to extract it: just double-click on the .exe file created to start the extraction process. Security is guaranteed by the cryptographic method used: with AES-256 the files will be safe even from possible hacker attacks.
veracrypt
If we have to protect a file from prying eyes and we don't have to share it with anyone, instead of creating a protected compressed archive we recommend using the free program VeraCrypt, available for Windows and for Mac.
With this program we will be able to create a "container" file visible from the computer as if it were an external hard disk, in which we can safely store all the files to be hidden. Once the file is placed inside the virtual disk created by the program, simply lock it to make it inaccessible to anyone. To recover the file, simply open the program, select the container file, choose a drive letter (on Windows) and enter the password.
To find out how to create the archive file, how to manage it and how to transform an entire USB stick into an encrypted drive, we invite you to read our dedicated guide How to put a password on a USB stick .
READ ALSO: Password protect files and folders on Windows
How to encrypt a file on Android
Almost all file managers on Android allow you to encrypt the files stored in the internal memory or on the microSD of the phone, so as to be able to protect sensitive contents and prevent anyone from peeking at photos, documents and videos.The management software that we recommend to install is Solid Explorer, available for free for all Android devices. After installing the app, open it, go to the folder containing the file to be encrypted and select it; let's tap on the bottom right of the icon with the three dots and select the item Crypt .
A window will open in the foreground where you can enter the password to be used for encryption and choose whether to remove the original file (by activating the Remove original files option) and whether or not to use the fingerprint for unlocking (activating or not the Use fingerprint item). After making the necessary decisions, we press the Crypt key to protect the file. To be able to decrypt the file, simply click on it, enter the password and choose a path where to save it.
The file created with this app will have an additional extension (.sec), indicating that it is protected with Solid Explorer: only this management system is able to manage them, therefore we will obtain a very high degree of security even if we decide move the file to your PC or another Android device.
Below we can see some similar apps:
- GalleryVault
- Folder Lock
- File manager
- ASTRO file management
READ ALSO: How to hide photos, videos and apps on Android
How to encrypt a file on the iPhone
If we have an iPhone, we can try the free app Hide it Pro, which allows you to hide in a safe space all the photos, videos and documents that we do not want to be visible.
After downloading the app, simply choose a robust password to hide the program interface, which allows you to hide any photo, video or document present in the internal memory. In addition to files, it also allows you to hide apps, browser history, hide itself (masquerading as another app) and much more.
Other similar apps that we can try for iPhone are:
- Folder Lock
- AESCrypt
Conclusions
In this guide we have shown you which programs and apps to use to encrypt any file in a simple way, without wasting too much time and above all with passages within everyone's reach.If we want to protect a PDF file against unauthorized reading, we can read our guide Protect a PDF file with a password so as not to open or modify it . If, on the other hand, our fear is the files stored on the cloud, we can encrypt them by reading the steps described in our 6 ways to encrypt the files uploaded to the cloud storage .
