7-Zip / Encrypt files and folders in Windows

Objective

• To provide instruction in using 7-Zip to encrypt files and folders in Windows

User

• Miami University Student, Staff, Faculty, Alumni

Environment

• Microsoft Windows
• 7-Zip

Rationale

• When you send or transfer files that contain confidential and sensitive data, the files should be encrypted to ensure they are protected from unauthorized disclosure

Procedure

1. Right-click on the file / folder to be encrypted
2. Select 7-Zip, and then Add to archive…
3. In the Add to Archive window, change the name of the archive you wish to create
4. Change the archive format to Zip
5. Change the encryption method to AES-256
6. Enter a password
   • Use a strong password with at least 8 characters containing upper and lowercase letters, and a minimum of one number
7. Select Ok to create the encrypted archive file
   • The new archive file will be located in the same folder as the original

Note

• There is a trade-off between using AES-256 and ZipCrypto. AES-256 has proven to be much more secure than ZipCrypto, but if you select AES-256, the recipient of the zip file may have to install 7-Zip or another zip program to read the file contents. Selecting ZipCrypto may allow users to open the zip file in Windows without a zip program, but it does not provide adequate protection against attackers with modern cracking tools. It is strongly recommended to use AES-256 to protect sensitive and confidential data