2. how do you encrypt a single file

Make sure to store your password in a safe place. Only open the file when you need to access it and close the file when you are done viewing or editing it. If you are collaborating with others on an encrypted file, make sure to share the password securely, such as in-person. The AxCrypt software must be installed on each computer which will be reading or editing the encrypted file s.

If you wish to install this software yourself, you must have Administrator access on your computer. Wayne State University does not maintain or provide support for this software. Download the free software AxCrypt. You should download the Full Setup version of the file. Find the software at axantum.

Run the downloaded installer file. You may do this by double-clicking the file from your Downloads folder. The Windows UAC security feature will require you to confirm that you want to install this software. Mine has a checkbox option to excrypt the file names as well so there is no need to double zip anything. It should appear just below the encryption method option in your example. I tried copying and pasting the pass-phrase from LastPass when right clicking on the document.

There was no shortcut menu. I do not understand why it does not work for you. The Rt click copy and Rt click paste work correctly from Lastpass to Axcrypt. I just copied my 21 character password from Lastpass and pasted it into the encrypted file of Axcrypt. I would guess that I could then use AxCrypt to encrypt one file and email it to my not-so-computer-savvy friends.

Am I right? As I read it if the original is removed within the Truecrypt container and replaced with an encrypted version, when the Truecrypt container is dismounted that particular file will now be doubly encrypted. When you remount the Truecrypt container that one file will still be encrypted by AxCrypt and will have to be decrypted by AxCrypt before it can be used. For reasons I have not been able to get a straight answer too, our ISP in Canada, Telus, does not allow emails, with encrypted.

There is no problem sending non-encrypted. You can use the option, located in Tools Accounts Properties Advanced, to break messages into smaller parts. One problem I have had is that a lot of email providers will not allow you to send a file with an EXE or Zip extension. I assume that is for security reasons. My work around in that case, is to change the extension to BBB or some other non-common extension. Scanning, of course, is exactly what users are trying to prevent by encryption!

In this case, why not use a free file sharing site like Mediafire to share the possibly encrypted files? One additional thing for those who need to eliminate the original unencrypted file from their computers, you would need to install a file shredder utility to fully erase any traces of the original file from your machine.

Sdelete is a command line program, but I find it easy to use. You can also google to find a wiper with a graphical user interface. I downloaded and installed AxCrypt fairly recently, and there were no offers for any kind of unwanted programs.

In any case, if you are careful, you can avoid any unwanted software which comes bundled by choosing custom install and reading the screens to find out what they are trying to install. Free software is a bit of minefield, but the mines are easy to avoid if you are careful. It all comes down to the risk one is willing to take. If a good and useful piece of software is only available from a source which bundles it with pups, I carefully read all of the screens and only agree to install the software which the agreement says is installing the software I want.

In fact, I treat all freeware like that and I assume that everything I download might have a pup or three. Why take any risk when there no-risk alternatives available. I mainly wrote that comment for others so they could understand the risks and make their own decision.

One of the most dangerous activities in the world is riding in a car, yet most people are aware of the risks and take the necessary precautions. That may well be, but I believe that then results in a.

But you can zip it as a. It would be a perfect solution but for the sad fact that no ISP, email website, or email program or at least, Windows Live Mail will allow.

Good point. The file or folder is now encrypted, but unlike when you use BitLocker, there is no padlock image on the file or folder once it is successfully done.

Also well worth mentioning is that Windows 10 offers a way for you to always backup what you have just chosen to encrypt by using the Certificate Manager tool known as Crtmgr. Highlight the certificate that you want to backup. You highlight it by clicking on it once, and you know it is highlighted when it turns a blue color. The Certificate Export Wizard then gives you the option of either exporting the private key or not exporting the private key along with the file or folder.

If you did choose to password protect the file or folder a couple of steps ago, it is here where it now gives you the chance of adding the password to it that you want to help keep it secure. Most passwords are recommended to be at least eight digits if you want to keep it properly safe and secure. You can upload that to your cloud storage or transfer it to an external SD card storage when you connect it to the computer.

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.