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Need to encrypt your files, but don't have the software to do it? LOOK NO FURTHER! I am here to show you how to encrypt your files! 

If you are Mac user, please follow this link (click here) to encrypt your files because the software I will be talking about is for Window users. Alternatively, you can download Keka, which is a free file archiver for Mac OS X, here. Instructions on how to use Keka can be found here.

If you are a Window user, please keep reading. If you use Linux, you can google it or click here: (option 1) or (option 2)

Let's get started. The software that I will be talking about is called 7-Zip.

7-Zip is an open source software used to compress or zip files secured with encryption. Alternatively, you can also use WinZip (click here for WinZip). To download 7-Zip, click here. 

After the software as been installed, you can proceed to encrypt a file or folder:

STEP 1:

Right click on the file/folder to be encrypted. 

Select "7-Zip" and then "Add to archive"

STEP 2:

Change the name of the archive you wish to create.

STEP 3:

Change the Archive format to "Zip".

STEP 4:

Change the Encryption method to "AES-256". You can also select ZipCrypto, but AES-256 is more secure. However, if AES-256 is selected, the recipient of the zip file may have to install 7-Zip or another zip program to open it. Selecting ZipCrypto allows users to open a zip file in Windows without a zip program. 

I strongly recommend that you use AES-256 to protect your data. 

STEP 5:

Enter a strong password. Here are some tips on how create a strong password: (option 1) or (option 2).

STEP 6:

Select "OK" to create the encrypted archive file. This file will be located in same file as the original.

You have encrypted your file! Congratulations! 

*to open the file, you just need to enter the password