In this digital historic period, it is crucial to keep your data safe from unauthorized misuse. If you are looking to secure your PC data, 1 method is to encrypt important files.

Windows users tin make use of the Command Prompt utility tool to secure their files from unauthorized access. Allow'due south look at how you lot, as well, can use control prompt to go on your files safe and secure.

What is Encryption?

Encryption, in short, keeps your data safe by obfuscating it, rendering information technology useless to unauthorized parties. Information is encrypted using specific algorithms which convert your data into ciphertext, safeguarding your data.

Encryption ensures that no unauthorized parties can admission data that is not intended for them and is a fantastic option for protecting secure communications and preventing information breaches. On the other, manus, decryption is the reverse process that converts obfuscated ciphertext into plainly text that humans can read.

At that place are two main types of encryption: symmetric encryption, and asymmetric encryption. Asymmetric encryption uses a public central and a individual key to encrypt and decrypt data, whereas symmetric encryption uses simply ane cardinal.

If your data is encrypted, it will remain secure fifty-fifty if it is openly bachelor. However, if a malicious person gets a hold of the decryption keys and manages to decode your information, your information will be at risk.

How to Encrypt Files Using the Control Prompt

Fortunately, nosotros tin can encrypt files using Windows' ain Command Prompt and the zippo command. To do and so, do the following:

Encrypt files on Windows 10
  1. Search for Command Prompt in the Start menu search bar, and then double click to launch information technology.
  2. You now need to change the working directory to the binder that contains your files. For example, if I wanted to encrypt files in the test folder that is located on my desktop, I would use the command cd Desktop\Test.
  3. Now type cipher /e.
  4. Your files will now be encrypted, and Windows should evidence you a confirmation message to tell you lot that it completed the task successfully.
encrypted files on Win10

If y'all're using a Windows 10 Abode license, you will not be able to encrypt files using the Command Prompt. The cypher utility is supported on Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise licenses.

How to Decrypt Files Using the Control Prompt

The steps to decrypt the encrypted files are pretty similar:

decrypt encrypted files via command prompt
  1. Launch Command Prompt through the First menu
  2. Modify the working directory to the required folder
  3. Decrypt files using the command cipher /d.
  4. Control Prompt volition at present decrypt your files and will display a confirmation message.

Encrypting Files on Windows 10

If you fear your data may be at risk, information technology is a good thought to encrypt your files and keep them secure. You can easily exercise this with information encryption software. Although non ideal, the cipher utility in the Windows Control Prompt is a decent method to encrypt your files securely.

How to Send Encrypted E-mail With v Popular Post Services

Non all email services are created equal — read on to find out which popular email services support encryption to keep your mail safe and secure.

Read Next

About The Writer

Chiliad. Fahad Khawaja (101 Articles Published)

Fahad is a writer at MakeUseOf and is currently majoring in Computer Science. As an gorging tech-writer he makes certain he stays updated with the latest technology. He finds himself particularly interested in football and technology.

More than From M. Fahad Khawaja