7-Zip is an open-source software commonly known as a file archiver. It is used to zip or compress files secured with encryption.
When you send or move documents that contain Personal Identifiable Information (PII) or other confidential and sensitive information, the files must be encrypted to ensure they are protected from unauthorized disclosure.
7-Zip creates a container known as. Those archives can be encrypted and protected with a password. 7-Zip produces Zip files that may be opened with similar programs. Take note, this app may be free, but 7zip is safe and reliable.
Use 7zip to Encrypt Files and Folders
After installing 7zip, please follow these steps to encrypt a file or folder.
- Step 1: Right click the file / folder you want to encrypt.
- Step 2: Select the "7-Zip" then "Add to archive…"
- Step 3: From the window alter this archive's title you want to create.
- Step 4: Change the format to "Zip".
- Step 5: Change the Encryption Method to"AES-256".
There's a trade-off between utilizing AES-256 and ZipCrypto. AES-256 is proven much more secure than ZipCrypto, but the receiver of the zip file may need to set up zip application to read the document contents, if you select AES-256. Selecting ZipCrypto may enable users to open the zip file in Windows with no zip application, but it doesn't provide sufficient protection from attackers with tools that are cracking that are contemporary.
It's strongly suggested to utilize AES-256 to safeguard sensitive and confidential information.
- Step 6: Enter a Password. Use a strong password using at least eight characters containing upper and lowercase letters, and a minimum of one number.
- Step 7: Select"Ok" to make the encrypted archive file. The new archive will be found in the same folder as the original.
Finest security practices advise that you don't email the password as it could be intercepted in transit. Communicate the password over the telephone and it is better to call the recipient of the Zip file.
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Two Best Features of 7zip
7-Zip is my favorite file compression tool. It's totally free (and open-source), clean, quick, and multi-languages.
I have utilized 7-Zip for a couple of years but used it as a compression tool that was simple. Lately I happened to open 7-Zip's most important interface (click on a file name or folder name in Windows Explorer and in the popup menu, select 7-Zip, then Add to archive…) and noticed two invaluable features that I used to resort to the assistance of additional software. Here are:
Compress into a Zip format (the .zip file extension).
Zip format (.zip file) is the most popular compression format because of the prevalence of WinZip.
Encrypt the file that is compressed.
Sending files on the internet might not be safe. Before I ship it out online, I encrypt my archive. 7-Zip comes with an encryption feature where you can define a password to protect the archived content. In addition to encrypting the material, you may even encrypt the archive header, including the file name(s), if you use 7z format for the compression.
Final Words
You may probably be using paid tools right now and forget that there are free programs like 7zip that you can use. If your concern is the safety and security of your files, don't worry. You can rely on 7zip alone even if it is free. If you have doubts, drop us a comment below.
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