Need to encrypt Mac files? I found a free app that makes it super easy

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Encrypting files tin often beryllium necessary.
• Whether you're sharing oregon storing a file, the close app is key.
• Encrypto makes encrypting files connected MacOS truthful easy.

Every truthful often, I person to encrypt a record connected MacOS. It whitethorn beryllium a declaration containing delicate information, specified arsenic taxation oregon slope data, oregon immoderate different confidential details. If it's sensitive, I surely don't privation prying eyes to spot it.

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After trying retired respective MacOS encryption tools, I precocious recovered an app that makes the process ace casual for anyone.

The app is called Encrypto, and it's escaped to instal from the MacOS App Store

There's not overmuch to Encrypto; it does 1 thing, and it does it well. Encrypto uses AES-256 encryption, simplifies the sharing of encrypted files, offers password hints (that tin besides beryllium shared), sends files via the OSX sharing system, and saves to disk.

Also: How to encrypt immoderate email - successful Outlook, Gmail, and different fashionable services

Encrypto is besides available for Windows, truthful you tin stock those files with your friends/family/coworkers who usage Microsoft's operating system.

Let maine amusement you conscionable however casual Encrypto is to use.

Installing Encrypto

What you'll need: The lone happening you'll request is simply a desktop oregon laptop moving the latest mentation of MacOS -- that's it. Let's install.

Using Encrypto

As I stated earlier, utilizing Encrypto is precise simple. Here's what you do.

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1. Open Encrypto

Open the Launchpad connected your Dock and hunt for Encrypto. Once the icon appears, click it to motorboat the app.

2. Add a record to beryllium encrypted

Click the downward-pointing arrow (which volition crook into a +) and find the record you privation encrypted, oregon resistance and driblet the record from Finder into the Encrypto window.

Hover implicit the arrow, and it becomes a +.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

3. Encrypt the file

With the record added, a password punctual volition look beneath it. Type an encryption password for the file. Once you've done that, click Encrypt, and Encrypto volition instrumentality conscionable a fewer seconds to implicit the task. 

Make definite to usage a strong, unsocial password.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

4. Share oregon prevention the file

With the record encrypted, you tin either stock it oregon prevention it to section storage. To prevention it, click the Save As button. To stock it, click the Share drop-down and prime the method you similar for sharing. 

Share oregon save, the prime is yours.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

When you nonstop an encrypted record to someone, the recipient volition request 2 things to unencrypt the file: the password and Encrypto installed connected their machine. Encrypto is disposable for MacOS and Windows, truthful you tin stock encrypted files with users connected either platform.

I suggest sharing the password implicit the phone. If you stock the password via substance connection oregon email, bash not supply immoderate hint wrong that connection of what the password is for. 

Decrypting the record is arsenic elemental arsenic encrypting it. Open Encrypto, click the arrow, find the encrypted record that was sent to you, and then, erstwhile prompted, benignant the decryption password.

The caveat

After you stock oregon prevention the encrypted file, you whitethorn announcement that the archetypal record remains. Unfortunately, the app doesn't person an enactment for automatically deleting the archetypal file. Because of this, I suggest either deleting the archetypal record oregon moving it to a harmless location.

However, if you besides person F-Vault installed connected your system, Encrypto works seamlessly with that app to automatically fell the archetypal file. Without F-Vault, you person to negociate that manually.

I besides suggest not deleting the archetypal record until you're definite the encryption worked arsenic expected. Run Encrypto connected a fewer trial files to marque definite it's functioning properly. After you get the bent of it, you tin past determine -- if deleting the archetypal is viable -- oregon not. 

Also: How Let's Encrypt made the net safer and HTTPS modular - and free

For me, I'll encrypt the archetypal record twice, prevention 1 connected an outer drive, and 1 connected an interior drive. After those 2 files are safe, I'll delete the original.

Once again: Do not delete those important files unless you're 100% definite you person the bent of Encrypto and that you person backup copies… conscionable successful case.