The questions regarding safety are increasingly important in the world of computers and the Internet. Today, it is practically inconceivable a PC without antivirus. But the wards shouldn’t end there.
Well Protecting your files from possible intruders is essential. Especially if you keep important information in them. For these reasons, operating systems offer users an effective way to protect their information.
It’s about the encryption. One way available in all computer systems. From mobile apps to emails. If you want to know more about this topic and protect your files in the safest way, we invite you to the next post.
What are the benefits and why is it important to encrypt files and disks?
As we mentioned in the introduction, the purpose of encrypting files, folders or entire disks is to prevent unauthorized access, either local or remote to our data. From this it follows, protect privacy and sensitive data that may contain cyber attacks. Among the most serious, we find identity theft or bank fraud.
What should I keep in mind when encrypting a hard drive or file?
Before continuing with the ways to perform an encryption, it is important that you know that this it will mean an extra level in security, but also in complexity. Consequently, the speed and ease that you had to access your data will be slowed down.
Further, you should know that, like all passwords, forgetting them can be a headache. In this way, it is convenient to keep them somewhere safe. However, in the case of Windows, it offers the possibility of saving a recovery key in your Microsoft account. If you forget your password and you cannot recover it, the only way to reuse the encrypted drive will be formatting.
Learn step by step how to encrypt a hard drive on any device
Taking into account the previous recommendations, we can now continue with the most important. Encryption of discs. They can be internal, magnetic or solid state or also external like removable memories or pen drives.
Furthermore, it is possible to add this layer of security in any operating system, using the following methods:
On windows
- This SO has an integrated tool (in most cases) call BitLocker with which, it will only be enough to enter “This team”.
- There you will find all the available units. Once you’ve chosen which album to start with, press the right button mouse over it.
- In the pop-up menu, press “Enable BitLocker.” You must be or have administrator permissions.
- A window will open with two alternatives. The first will use a password generated by you to enable the selected unit. To do this you must write and repeat the same password.
- Press “Next”.
- At that time the system will offer you the recovery method through the Microsoft account.
- The next window will ask you how much space on the drive you want to encrypt. The first option will do it only on the disk space used (which will be easier at the time of use). The second will do it throughout the unit, including data that may have been deleted. Use the latter if you have been using the equipment for a while. Once you’ve made up your mind. Press “Next”.
- Once this is done, in the next window you must choose the encryption mode to use. These two alternatives correspond to whether it is an internal drive such as solid state or magnetic hard drives. The second option “Compatible Mode” is dedicated to removable drives capable of being used on other computers with the same operating system. Press “Next” once again.
- In this last window all the options you have just chosen will be displayed. Check that they are correct and press the button “Start encryption.”
On macOS
In the event that you have a Mac computer, the process becomes even simpler:
- Connect the unit formatted.
- Press the secondary click on the inserted disk.
- In the drop down menu, choose “Encrypt”.
- Write the password you want to use.
On linux
As with Mac, the method on Linux is pretty straightforward:
- Right click on the selected unit.
- Press the option “Format volume”.
- In the formatting window, in the section “Kind”, choose “Encryption, compatible with Linux systems”.
- Write the password and your confirmation and press “Format”.
List of the best programs to protect your discs and documents with data encryption
If you are interested in using third-party software to protect your disks and removable drives, we offer you a list of the best free applications:
VeraCrypt
This is the enhanced program and successor to Truecrypt. Ensures an improvement in the security of the algorithms used for the encryption of systems and disk partitions, which allows a immunity to new developments in cyber attacks.
Download VeraCrypt Windows
Download VeraCrypt MacOS
AxCrypt
It is a software of Open Source that is incorporated into operating systems of Windows. Therefore, all you have to do is right-click on disks, files, and even files to access the encryption function. It also has the utility of protect files for a specified duration, after which they will be released.
Download AxCrypt Windows
Download AxCrypt MacOS
DiskCryptor
Like the previous option is opensource but with algorithms up to 256 bits. In addition, it offers the possibility of encrypting external optical media such as CD and DVD. This and all the encryption alternatives on the list are free and can be downloaded from your official pages.
Download DiskCryptor Windows