How do I encrypt a file in Windows 7?

How do I password protect a file in Windows 7?

Windows 7

1. In Windows Explorer, navigate to the folder you want to password-protect. Right-click on the folder.
2. Select Properties from the menu. …
3. Click the Advanced button, then select Encrypt content to secure data. …
4. Double-click the the folder to ensure you can access it.

How do I encrypt a file myself?

How to encrypt a file folder or file

1. On your home computer, choose the file or folder you want to encrypt and right-click on it.
2. Select Properties.
3. Select the Advanced button then check the box next to Encrypt contents to secure data.
4. Press OK, which will close the Advanced Attributes window.

How do I encrypt files on my computer?

How to encrypt a file

1. Right-click (or press and hold) a file or folder and select Properties.
2. Select the Advanced button and select the Encrypt contents to secure data check box.
3. Select OK to close the Advanced Attributes window, select Apply, and then select OK.

How do I encrypt a folder?

In Windows Explorer, right-click on the file or folder you wish to encrypt. From the context-menu, select Properties. Click on the Advanced button at the bottom of the dialogue box. In the Advanced Attributes dialogue box, under Compress or Encrypt Attributes, check Encrypt contents to secure data.

How can I show my hidden folders in Windows 7?

Windows 7. Select the Start button, then select Control Panel > Appearance and Personalization. Select Folder Options, then select the View tab. Under Advanced settings, select Show hidden files, folders, and drives, and then select OK.

How do you decrypt a file?

To decrypt a file or folder:

1. From the Start menu, select Programs or All Programs, then Accessories, and then Windows Explorer.
2. Right-click the file or folder you want to decrypt, and then click Properties.
3. On the General tab, click Advanced.
4. Clear the Encrypt contents to secure data checkbox, and then click OK.

How do I encrypt a TXT file?

You can encrypt the text file directly or put it in a new folder and then encrypt the folder. Right-click the file, select Properties and click the Advanced button. Select Encrypt Contents to Secure Data. Note that you can also compress the contents to save disk space.

How do I encrypt a file to send via email?

Encrypt a single message

1. In message that you are composing, click File > Properties.
2. Click Security Settings, and then select the Encrypt message contents and attachments check box.
3. Compose your message, and then click Send.

How do I encrypt a file before sending it?

Follow the steps below to apply a password to a document:

1. Click the File tab.
2. Click Info.
3. Click Protect Document, and then click Encrypt with Password.
4. In the Encrypt Document box, type a password, and then click OK.
5. In the Confirm Password box, type the password again, and then click OK.

What files should be encrypted?

3 types of data you definitely need to encrypt

• HR data. Unless you’re a sole trader, every company has employees, and this comes with a large amount of sensitive data that must be protected. …
• Commercial information. …
• Legal information.

What happens when the encryption key is lost?

If you lose the decryption key, you cannot decrypt the associated ciphertext. The data that is contained in the ciphertext is considered cryptographically erased. If the only copies of data are cryptographically erased ciphertext, access to that data is permanently lost.

What does it mean to encrypt a file?

A Definition of Data Encryption

Data encryption translates data into another form, or code, so that only people with access to a secret key (formally called a decryption key) or password can read it. Encrypted data is commonly referred to as ciphertext, while unencrypted data is called plaintext.