How to Encrypt Files and Folders in Windows 10 Using BitLocker EFS or Properties?

In the modern world we live in, keeping info safe is very important. It’s important to stop other people from getting into your private files and folders so that your personal and business information stays safe.

The good news is that Windows 10 comes with tools that let you lock your files and folders, which adds another layer of security. This article will show you how to protect files and folders in Windows 10, which will keep your private information safe and secure.

How to Encrypt Files and Folders in Windows 10?

More and more private information is being kept on computers, so it is important to keep people from getting to it without permission. Encryption adds an extra layer of security to files and folders by changing the data into a code that can’t be read and can only be opened with the right access key or password.

There are several ways to protect your files and groups in Windows 10. This keeps your information safe and out of the public eye.

What Does It Mean to Encrypt Files and Folders?

File and folder encryption is the process of turning your information into a code that can’t be read so that no one else can get to it. Encryption uses complicated methods to scramble the data so that almost no one can read or understand it without the right decode key or password. This makes sure that even if someone gets into your computer or storage device without your permission, they can’t see private files and folders.

Encryption Methods in Windows 10

There is more than one way to protect your files and groups in Windows 10. Here are three of the most popular ways to keep information safe:

BitLocker Drive Encryption

BitLocker Drive Encryption is an encryption tool that comes with Windows 10 and lets you protect whole files or partitions. It offers a high level of security and is especially useful for securing system files and external storage devices.

Encrypting File System (EFS)

Encrypting File System (EFS), a tool for securing files, is built into Windows 10. It lets you lock down individual files and folders, giving you more control over how your data is protected. EFS can be used to keep private information on the hard drives of your computer safe.

File and Folder Properties Encryption

You can also change the settings of files and groups in Windows 10 to make them encrypted. This is the best way to protect single files or groups of files without using system-wide tools like BitLocker or EFS.

Encrypting Files and Folders using BitLocker

1. Enabling BitLocker

Make sure that your version of Windows 10 can handle BitLocker Drive Encryption if you want to use it. Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Enterprise, and Windows 10 Education all come with BitLocker. To turn on BitLocker, do the following:

• Find “Control Panel” in the Start menu and click on it to open it.
• Click “System and Security” and then “BitLocker Drive Encryption.”
• In the BitLocker settings, click the “Turn on BitLocker” button next to the drive or area you want to protect.
• Follow the steps on the screen to set up a password or choose a USB drive as the encryption key.

Encrypting Individual Files and Folders

Do the following if you want to use BitLocker to protect certain files or folders:

• Right-click on the file or folder you want to encrypt and choose “Properties.”
• Click the “Advanced” button on the “General” tab.
• Check the box that says “Encrypt contents to secure data” and then click “OK.”
• Click “Apply” and then “OK” to close the box that says “Properties.”

Decrypting Files and Folders

Do the following to get into files or folders that BitLocker has locked:

• Right-click on the file or folder you want to encrypt, and then click “Properties.”
• Click the “Advanced” button on the “General” tab.
• Uncheck the box that says “Encrypt contents to secure data” and then click “OK.”
• Click “Apply” and then “OK” to close the box that says “Properties.”

2. Encrypting Files and Folders using EFS

Enabling EFS

You need to turn on Encrypting File System (EFS) before you can use it to protect files and groups. What you should do is:

• Right-click on the file or folder you want to encrypt and choose “Properties.”
• Click the “Advanced” button on the “General” tab.
• Check the box that says “Encrypt contents to secure data” and then click “OK.”
• Click “Apply” and then “OK” to close the box that says “Properties.”

How to Use EFS to Encrypt Files and Folders?

To protect files and folders with EFS, you must do the following:

• Choose the folder or file that you want to make private.
• Right-click on the thing you want to change, and then click “Properties.”
• Click the “Advanced” button on the “General” tab.
• Check the box that says “Encrypt contents to secure data” and then click “OK.”
• Click “Apply” and then “OK” to close the box that says “Properties.”

Decrypting Files and Folders encrypted with EFS

Do the following to get into files or folders that have been protected with EFS:

• Right-click on the file or folder you want to encrypt, and then click “Properties.”
• Click the “Advanced” button on the “General” tab.
• Uncheck the box that says “Encrypt contents to secure data” and then click “OK.”
• Click “Apply” and then “OK” to close the box that says “Properties.”

3. Using the Properties of Files and Folders to Encrypt Files and Folders

Setting Up Advanced Features

You can change the basic settings of files and groups in Windows 10, like whether or not they are encrypted. To set the extra features, do the following:

• Right-click on the file or folder you want to encrypt and choose “Properties.”
• Click the “Advanced” button on the “General” tab.
• Check the box that says “Encrypt contents to secure data” in the Advanced Attributes window and click “OK.”
• Click “Apply” and then “OK” to close the box that says “Properties.”

Encrypting and Decrypting Files and Folders

Once you’ve set the advanced choices for a file or folder, encryption or decryption happens right away. When the files or folders are saved, they will be locked. When the right account is used to open them, they will open.

Best Practices for File and Folder Encryption

Even though protecting your files and folders makes them safer, you should still follow best practices to keep them as safe as possible. Consider what will happen next:

Choose Strong and Unique Passwords

Use strong, hard-to-guess passwords to protect your files and folders. Use a mix of big letters, small letters, numbers, and other symbols. Don’t use well-known quotes or easy-to-figure-out facts about yourself.

Back-Up Your Encrypted Files Often

Make copies of your protected files and folders on a second hard drive or in the cloud regularly. Having backups makes sure you can get your protected information back if you lose it or your system crashes.

Be Mindful of Physical Security

Encryption is important for Internet security, but real security is just as important. Make sure that people who shouldn’t be able to can’t use your computer or storage devices.

Keep Software and Operating System Updated

Make sure to keep your software and operating system up to date so you can get the latest security fixes. Updates often add new security features that can keep you safe from new threats or holes.

Conclusion

Encrypting your files and folders is one of the best ways to keep your private information safe in Windows 10. Use encryption tools like BitLocker, and EFS, or change the settings of files and folders to add an extra layer of security to your private information.

Choose strong passwords and make copies of your private files frequently. You can keep your information safe if you do these things. To read more content like this, visit https://www.trendblog.net.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

In all versions of Windows 10, is it possible to protect files?

Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education all come with BitLocker and EFS, which are protection tools. But you can protect files and folders by changing their settings in all versions of Windows 10.

Can I protect files and groups that are stored on external storage?

Yes, you can use BitLocker Drive Encryption to protect files and groups on external hard drives. This makes you safer in case you lose your portable storage device or someone steals it.

Can I give files and places that are protected to other people?

Yes, you can give other people access to protected files and folders as long as they have the right key or password. To keep your data private, you should only give the key or password to people you know and trust.

What happens if I forget the password or lose the key?

If you forget the access key or password, it may be hard or even impossible to get the secure files and folders back. Keep your decryption key or password in a safe place or use a password manager to avoid this.

Is it possible to secure files that are already in an encrypted folder?

Things that are already in a private folder can be locked. This lets you protect your data more subtly, making sure that some files stay safe even if other files in the same folder can be read.