Thanks for visitting this article where we’ll be discussing on How to encrypt files in Windows and we’ll aso discuss ways you’re making your pc easily able to hack, hope your experience here goes wondafully.
In the uncetain and ever-evolving the world of cybersecurity, there is never enough security. Just when you think you can handle everything, something unexpected happens. Protecting your data from all angles is therefore extremely important because even tech companies are not immune to everything, including the wrath of an activist employee going through the whistleblower phase or simply a routine third-party data breach. Encryption is one of the additional layers of data security. Encrypting your Windows files or folders also renders them unavailable to outside unauthorized users.
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So, let’s begin!
How to encrypt files in Windows
There are a handful of ways to encrypt your files in windonws but here are a some;
How to use Bitlocker for full-drive encryption
Only full-drive encryption is available with Bitlocker, but fortunately, you can decide whether to encrypt the entire drive or just the space being used. There is a performance cost associated with encrypting an entire disk, but if you are working on your C:/ drive exclusively on your business laptop, this is an excellent choice to take into account. Most of us have lost a few external drives throughout our lives, and heaven knows what was on them when we did. This makes it a fantastic alternative for external drives. So proceed, setting up Bitlocker is a rather simple process.
You may discover Bitlocker Management in the Control Panel or by typing the word “Bitlocker” into the Windows search box. You’ll see a list of your attached storage devices, both internal and external, when you open it. It will be set up on our external drive, F. Microsoft will ask you how you want to unlock the disk after you’ve enabled Bitlocker on the drive of your choice; we opted for a password rather than a smart card. If you select a Smart Card, you will require a USB drive that requires a PIN number to unlock it.
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The recovery key could save your behind if you ever forget your password or lose your Smart Card. Microsoft will then ask you how you wish to restore it. We decided to store the recovery key in our Microsoft Account because it seemed to be the safest way to do so—certainly smarter than writing it out!. Choosing whether to encrypt the entire drive or only the utilised space is one of the final steps. Simply because it should lead to speedier drive performance, we chose just the used space.
You will also need to decide whether you want an encryption option that is compatible with more recent PCs or one that is compatible with earlier releases of Windows. We chose the most recent version because our home only has PCs running Windows 10 or 11 at this time. Now that everything is ready, click Start Encrypting. The encryption process on our 256GB test drive took just a few seconds. When it’s finished, your data will be encrypted.
Now, instead of just opening like it does for external storage, inserting the now-encrypted disk yields the error displayed below. Additionally, Windows will open up and ask you to enter the recovery key or the encryption password. Fortunately, Windows provides you the choice to automatically unlock on a specific PC, which is helpful if you use it frequently on a home PC rather than a laptop.
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How to encrypt folders or if you’re using windows home using Viracrypt
Download the free tool and launch it to get going. You must first build the encrypted volume, so select build Volume to get started. We choose to Create an encrypted file container on the following screen since we only needed a place to store our critical documents and media. The vast majority of home users will be happy with Standard Veracrypt volume, therefore we chose that option next.
The placement for this file must then be determined, so take into account the size of the “folder” you plan to create and confirm that your storage device has enough space to accommodate it. We made a folder called “Veracrypt” on one of our hard drives since we’re fantastic at hiding things, and then we entered the file’s name into the dialogue box that appeared, producing the snapshot you see above. A detachable drive can also be used to create this volume, it should be noted.
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There are other encryption options available after that; choose AES and continue. Since AES-256 encryption is the strongest available and cannot be broken by brute force, it should serve your needs. Determine the size of your container now. In the event that there is sufficient space, aim for the moon because you cannot go back and make it larger later. Our decision was to make it 1GB.
The program is prepared to create the volume on your drive after you have entered that information. Don’t be alarmed by everything that appears to be “hacker”-related on the screen; simply click Format to get started. When the procedure is finished, it will let you know that the volume is prepared. You can now travel to the location of the container to confirm its existence and determine its file size, if that is something that is significant to you. You’ll see that clicking on it has no effect because you need to open it using the Veracrypt tool, so let’s do that right away.
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Accessing our encrypted volume is now necessary. Select File from the main menu of Veracrypt should be opened, then you should navigate to the folder containing it. You’ll also need to select a volume letter from the offered list, so pick an unoccupied letter like X or M, for example. After navigating to the file and selecting the volume letter, click Mount. You’ll see the same popup with the path to your file highlighted in blue when that’s finished. The volume will turn on when you double-click that. If you prefer that way, you will also see the identical volume appear in This PC.
Ways You’re Making Your Windows PC Easy to Hack
Hackers can take advantage of users’ PCs by taking advantage of the fact that they frequently use Windows incorrectly. As a result, it is up to you, the user, to evaluate your habits and break any undesirable ones. But how can you tell if you’ve established habits that make your Windows computer a prime candidate for hacking? Here are security mistakes with Windows to watch out for, along with advice on how to fix them to protect your computer.
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You Have Outdated Apps
Since many Windows apps save your personal information, if they aren’t secure, hackers can use them to steal it. Fortunately, app developers often upgrade their products to increase security and stop hackers from profiting from obsolete code and designs. Enter “Microsoft Store” in the Taskbar’s Search box to update apps you’ve downloaded from the Microsoft Store. Then, click the app’s entry in the search results to launch it. Then, to discover which apps require an update, select Library (bottom left).
To check for fresh updates and install any that are discovered, select Get Updates in the Microsoft Store app. The majority of programs that you installed outside of the Microsoft Store will let you know when an update is available. If not, you can manually check for updates by opening the app. For instance, you may check for updates on the VLC media player to see whether a newer version is available by going to Help > Check for Updates.
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Your Windows Defender Firewall Isn’t On
Without a firewall, your Windows PC is vulnerable to outside dangers like malicious data packets delivered by hackers. Your firewall should only ever be turned off when absolutely required, and you should always remember to switch it back on again. If you forgot to turn on the firewall after disabling it, you need to do it right away. Click on Firewall & network protection in the search results after pressing the Windows Key and typing “Firewall” into the search field. To turn on Microsoft Defender Firewall, click Domain Network. Then, repeat the process for both the private network and the public network.
Windows Hasn’t Been Updated in a While
Every month, hackers release tens of thousands of new pieces of malware that can infect your Windows computer, so you cannot afford to skip critical security updates. Microsoft frequently publishes updates that close security gaps, correct problems, and add new capabilities. Though it’s simple to forget to install updates yourself for weeks or even months if you’ve disabled automatic updates for whatever reason.
Update Windows on a machine that is online by selecting Start, the gear icon in Settings, and then Update Windows. Click Check for updates under Update & Security > Windows Update. Install any new updates that Windows discovers.
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You Don’t Perform Full System Scans Regularly
It’s simple to acquire malware when online without recognizing it. Therefore, it’s crucial to run a complete system scan at least once per week. Additionally, the scanning procedure can be readily automated if you’re concerned that you’ll forget. If Windows Defender has been updated, you don’t need to download any other antivirus programs for it to be functional. To access the app, type “Task Scheduler” into the search bar and click the app’s link in the list of results. Go to Microsoft > Windows > Windows Defender in the Task Scheduler Library section of the left pane.
Double-click Windows Defender Schedule Scan in the middle pane. The Windows Defender Scheduled Scan Properties (Local Computer) window will then open as a result. To create a trigger, select New from the Triggers tab. Select Weekly and the day you want the scan to repeat itself under Settings in the New Trigger window. Next, select OK.
You Disabled User Account Control (UAC)
You don’t want UAC disabled, especially if you’re constantly online. Limiting programs’ ability to make system-wide changes is one of UAC’s crucial duties. Therefore, should your Windows computer become infected with malware, UAC will stop it from gaining access to the entire system. Press the Windows Key, enter “UAC” in the search bar, and then choose Change User Account Settings from the list of options to enable the feature. Drag the slider to the level where you wish to enable UAC if it is currently set to Never Notify.
You Didn’t Encrypt Your Hard Drive
It’s crucial to encrypt any critical data you have stored on your hard disk. This will prevent anyone from opening the drive and accessing the data if you ever lose your laptop or it is stolen. The steps listed below can be used to encrypt your hard drive.
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FAQs
How do I create an encrypted folder?
- Make a “Properties” selection when you right-click on the folder you wish to encrypt.
- Navigate to the ‘Attributes’ section and select ‘Advanced’ under the ‘Properties’ window’s ‘General’ tab.
- Press OK after selecting the “Encrypt contents to secure data” button.
How to encrypt Windows 10?
Select Settings > Update & Security > Device encryption after clicking the Start button. Device encryption is not available if it doesn’t show up. Select Turn on to enable device encryption if it isn’t already.
Can 7zip encrypt files?
A single file, a group of files, or an entire folder can be packaged with 7-Zip in a passphrase-protected and encrypted package. Choose the file(s) and/or folder(s) you want to encrypt with 7-Zip Open. Right-click on the chosen file(s) or folder(s), select 7-Zip, and then pick Add to archive from the side menu.
How do I Encrypt a file?
- To access the Properties menu, right-click (or click while holding) a file or folder.
- Click the Advanced button, then tick the box next to Encrypt contents to secure data.
- Select Apply, then select OK to end the Advanced Attributes window.
How do I put a password on a folder?
Password-protect a folder or file using encryption.
Does zipping a file encrypt it?
Files that are being zipped up are encrypted. After compression, this encryption is introduced, and it has no effect on the linked data. A Zip file’s contents are byte-for-byte encrypted.
How do I Encrypt a file with a password?
- To encrypt a document with a password, go to File > Info > Protect Document.
- Enter a password, then enter it a second time to make sure.
- To ensure that the password is applied, save the file.
How do I Encrypt a folder without software?
Place a right-click on the folder. Properties can be chosen from the menu. Click the General tab on the popup that displays. To safeguard data, click the Advanced button and then choose Encrypt content.
Which is more secure 7-Zip or WinRAR?
While 7-Zip utilizes the more secure AES-256, WinRAR employs the less secure AES-128. This means that a RAR file made in WinRAR would be easier to decrypt than a password-protected ZIP file created in 7-Zip. But a lot of security also depends on the strength of the password.
Thats all for this article where we discussed on How to encrypt files in Windows and al;so discuss ways you’re making your pc easily able to hack. Hope it was helpful. If so, kindly share. Thanks foir reading.
