- #How to encrypt flash drive windows 10 how to
- #How to encrypt flash drive windows 10 windows 10
- #How to encrypt flash drive windows 10 password
- #How to encrypt flash drive windows 10 Pc
You can use BitLocker if your computer doesn't have TPM by using software-based encryption instead, but it requires a longer setup and it isn’t as secure. This is a special microchip that enables your device to support advanced security features.
#How to encrypt flash drive windows 10 Pc
Check for a Trusted Platform Module chipīefore setting up BitLocker, check that your PC has a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip. You can opt for either method, but if you prefer a physical key, you will need to get a USB thumb drive before setting BitLocker up. Once set up, BitLocker lets you unlock your hard drive either by using a USB dongle or by entering a password.
#How to encrypt flash drive windows 10 windows 10
If you have Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise edition, you can use BitLocker to encrypt your hard drive.
#How to encrypt flash drive windows 10 how to
How to encrypt a hard drive using BitLocker - Step by Step This is a secure encryption standard, meaning that hard drives protected with BitLocker are safe against hackers for the foreseeable future. Using BitLocker minimizes the potential for useful data to be recovered from old or lost hard drives.īitLocker uses Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) as its cipher with user configurable key lengths of 128 or 256 bits. To protect valuable and sensitive company data from being accessed if a laptop is stolen or lost. Some users require FDE to comply with regulations that could lead to fines if consumer data stored on their system could be breached if a machine is stolen.
Now that you have encrypted your first file, Windows EFS will serve you an icon in the system tray in the bottom right-hand side of your screen. Tick the checkbox next to Encrypt contents to secure data.Ī window will pop up asking you whether you want to encrypt the selected folder, or the folder, sub-folders, and files.Ĭhoose either Apply changes to this folder only or Apply changes to this folder, sub-folders, and files.Ī small padlock symbol should appear in the top-right of the file or folder you've encrypted. Right-click the file or folder and click Properties.
Locate the file or folder that you wish to encrypt in your file manager. Right-click on your Start button and open File Explorer Now that you have done the preliminary preparation steps, you are ready to enable EFS for specific files or folders.
#How to encrypt flash drive windows 10 password
Check out our article on the best password managers for a list of the best services and the pros and cons of using one. Password managers are very useful if you plan on password protecting your documents as they can generate long complex passwords and save them securely. This will allow you to access your encrypted files if you lose access to your user account. Get a USB thumb drive so you can save the backup key. Your file encryption will only be as strong as your user password, so make sure it is robust. Using EFS requires your user account to have a password, and unless that password is strong, it might be brute forced by someone with physical access to the computer. This kind of encryption is secure and fast, which means it can be used to encrypt any individual files you need to secure - no matter their size.Įnsure that your Windows user account has been set up with a password that is strong and hard to crack. Windows’ Encrypting File System (EFS) uses secure symmetric encryption using a File Encryption Key (FEK). The easiest and fastest way to encrypt files securely on your hard drive is to use Windows native encryption tool. Encrypting in Windows using built in Encrypting File System Below we will walk you through some of the most popular methods for encrypting on your computer. And, if you want to encrypt Excel databases, you can do that too. If you are looking for a way to encrypt text files such as Word documents and PDFs, you can also encrypt those files inside Microsoft Office.
Alternatively, you could use a third party encryption application. There are two main ways to encrypt files on a Windows machine - Windows’ built-in Encrypting File System (EFS) or BitLocker. How can I encrypt files and folders in Windows?