You often find yourself and not exactly willing to share the use of your computer with the other members of the family, each has his user account with a password in tow but the risk that someone else can put his hand to files for you relevant is always behind the corner.
Given the situation, then allow me to give you a simple but often underestimated suggestion: use programs to encrypt files , so as to make unauthorized third parties unauthorized documents, images and anything else you want to protect.
How do you say? The thing would seem to be interesting but you do not have the slightest idea of what resources to use? No problem, I can think about it, with this guide of mine focused precisely on the subject. Give me a few minutes of your precious time and together we will go to find out what software you have from yours to succeed in the enterprise. There are many, all free, both for Windows and Mac. You just have to choose what you think can do most for you, download it and … use it!
Then? What would you say to finally put the talk aside and take action? Yes? Great. Position yourself so comfortable in front of your trusted computer and start concentrating on the information you find right below. I sincerely hope that in the end you can feel very happy and satisfied. Good job”!
Encrypto (Windows / Mac)
The first of the programs to encrypt files that I want to talk to you about is Encrypto . It is a free software available for both Windows and Mac that allows, in fact, to encrypt any file, whether a text document, a photo, a video or an entire folder, with AES-256 encryption. It’s very easy to use (everything is done with a simple drag and drop) and also has a nice interface.
To download it to your computer, firstly connect to the program’s website and then click on the Download for Windows button (if you are using Windows) or on the Download on the Mac App Store (if you are using a Mac).
Next, if what you’re using is a Windows PC, open the .exe file obtained, click on Run and on Yes . Select the item I accept the Terms of Services and click on Next and then presses on Install now .
If you are using a Mac, click on the View button in the Mac App Store on the Web page that appears and then on the Get / Install button in the Mac App Store window that has been opened on the desktop. If prompted, enter the password for your Apple ID and then wait for the program download and installation procedure to start and complete. Go then in the Launchpad and start Ecrypto from there by clicking on the icon.
Regardless of the operating system, now that you see the program window, click on Next three times and then on Skip . Then drag the file you want to encrypt to the Encrypto window.
Then type the password you want to use to protect your file in the Password field below and press the Encrypt button . At the end of the procedure, press on Save As … to select the position in which to save the cracked file returned.
When you want it, you can decrypt the file simply by double clicking on it and typing, in the window of the program that will appear automatically on the screen, the password set previously. Then press on Decrypt to confirm the operation.
Drag’n Crypt ULTRA (Windows)
Looking for an alternative to the above program and using Windows? Then you will certainly be happy to meet Drag’n’Crypt ULTRA . It is a small free and no-install software that allows you to encrypt files and make them inaccessible for those unfamiliar with the password. Besides being extremely safe, it makes simplicity of use one of its main qualities.
To use it, connected to the download page of the program attached to the Softpedia website and presses the Download button located at the top left. Then press the Softpedia Mirror (EU) button in the window that appears and wait for the software download to start and complete.
Now, drag the file you want to encrypt to the icon of the program that appears on the screen and type in the password you want to use to protect it in the Key and Repeat fields . Pigia then on the Crypt button and it’s done.
Keep in mind that encrypted files are replaced with files with the extension .dcu, which are impossible to open without dragging them back into the program icon and entering the previously set password.
ProtectFile (Windows)
As its name suggests quite easily, ProtectFile is another program to encrypt files that allows you to protect any type of document, photo or video with a password. And free, for Windows operating systems and it’s very easy to use. However, this does not mean that the cryptographic files are not protected sufficiently.
You ask me how to use it? I’ll tell you right away. First, visit the download page on the Softpedia website and download the software on your computer by first clicking on the Download button located at the top left and then on the Softpedia Secure Download (US) button .
When the download is complete, open the .exe file obtained, click on Run , on Yes, on OK and on Next . Then select the item I accept the agreement and click again on Next twice, on Install and finally press on Finish .
Now, find the file you want to encrypt, right-click on it, choose the Protect this file entry from the context menu that opens and, using the program window you see on the screen, set the password you want to use by typing it in the Passwordfields : and Confirm password .
Finally, presses the button Protect this file and the selected file will be replaced with a protected copy of the same, with extension .pf_. Fantastic, is not it?
You can then access the protected file you just generated by double clicking on it and typing, in the window that will open on screen, the password set previously. Then press the Remove protection button to finalize the operation.
Easy File Locker (Windows)
In an article focused on what are the best programs to encrypt files it is practically impossible not to name Easy File Locker . This is in fact a free and light software for Windows operating systems that allows you to protect access to files and folders by setting an ad hoc password and, when necessary, making these elements invisible.
To download the program on your PC, connect to its Internet site and click on the item Download (32-bit version) or Download (64-bit version) , depending on the version of the operating system you are using.
When the download is complete, open the .exe file and click on Yes , on Next , on I Agree , again on Next , on Install and to finish on Finish .
Now that you see the Easy File Locker window on the desktop, press the button with the sheet and the “+” symbol on the top left and in the box that opens, click on the button […] and select the file or folder you want encrypt.
If instead of a single file you want to encrypt an entire folder, click on the folderbutton with the symbol “+” in the upper left part of the program window and proceed in the same way as I have just indicated.
Then remove the check from the word Accesible to make the chosen item inaccessible, decide whether to make the file or folder visible by checking or removing based on the choice made by the option Visible and click on the OK button .
Finally, select the path relative to the file or folder you chose to protect in the central part of the program window, click on the yellow key symbol located at the top and set the password you want to use as protection in the two fields on the screen. Pigia then on OK twice in a row and close the program.
When you consider it appropriate, you can access files and folders protected with password by restarting Easy File Folder, typing the password you have set a moment, selecting the item to be unlocked, double clicking on it, ticking all the items in further window that appears and clicking OK .
PixelCryptor (Windows)
PixelCryptor is an application different from the programs to encrypt files that I have already talked about, through which you can encrypt any type of document or folder using a photo as a password. It’s free, easy to use and works only on Windows. Try it now and you will see that you will not regret it.
To download it to your computer, connected to the download page of the program on the Uptodown website and click on the Last version button at the top right and then presses the Download button .
When the download is complete, open the .exe file obtained and click on Run , on Yes and on Next . Select the item I accept the agreement and press it again on Next three times, on Install and on Finish .
Then start the program by double clicking on the icon added to the desktop and if you see a warning appear on the download of the .NET Framework on your computer you consent to the thing, it is essential to make PixelCryptor work properly.
Once the PixelCryptor window is displayed, click on the Encode Files button (the blue book with the padlock ), select the files to be encrypted by pressing the Add File button , press the Next button at the bottom right and choose the photo to be used as password by first clicking on the central part of the program window.
Pigia once again on Next , indicates the name you wish to assign to the final file and the location for saving on the computer by pressing the button with the folder that is on the right and then press on Next and complete the whole procedure by pressing on Finishied . Here it is!
When you want it, you can access your encrypted file by double clicking on it, pressing in the middle of the program window and selecting the image previously used as protection. Pigia then on Next twice, indicate the destination position by clicking on the button with the folder , press on Next and then on Finishied . Done!
iSteg (Mac)
If what you are using is a Mac and the program to encrypt files that I told you at the beginning of the guide did not convince you, I recommend you try iSteg . It is in fact a free application specific for Apple branded computers through which it is possible to hide any kind of file in JPG format images to be protected then through a password without which they are inaccessible.
To download it to your computer, connected to the Internet site of the program and presses on the link Download iSteg 1.6.2 placed in correspondence of the Download section .
When the download is complete, extract the compressed archive obtained and drag the iSteg icon that was present at the internal in the Applications folder of macOS. Right-click on it and select Open twice in a row to confirm your willingness to open the program by going around the limitations imposed by Apple against unauthorized developers.
Once the software window on the desktop is displayed, click the [+] button next to the word Source Picture File: and open the image on the Mac you want to use to hide your file. Then press the [+] button next to the word Source Text File: and select the file you want to protect inside the image.
Then fill in the field under the item Password: with the password you want to preserve access to the file, click on the Process button , specify the location for saving and click OK . You can also generate a random one by clicking on the [+] button next to the field for entering the secret word.
The image generated with the application can then be displayed as well as any other JPG file, then with an image viewer or a graphics program.
To view the encrypted file inside it, you will need to use iSteg, opening the reference image using the Soruce Picture File: section , typing the password chosen previously in the appropriate field, removing the check from the Encode: box , pressing the Process button and indicating the location for the rescue.