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This item provides information on these topics:
Overview
It is a best practice to encrypt, and thereby password protect, any shared data file containing a level of sensitive data.
There are numerous commercial and non-commercial utilities available that are capable of providing strong encryption. Several suggested choices include:
- 7-Zip (Windows) - Open Source
- Symantec Endpoint Encryption (Windows) - Commercial, trial version available
- WinZip (Windows, MacOS) - Commercial, trial version available
- veracrypt (Windows, MacOS, Unix) - Free, Open Source
- MEO (Windows, MacOS) - Commercial. Free version available for noncommercial use.
- Keka (MacOS)
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Encrypting a file
After you have installed encryption software, follow the necessary steps to encrypt a file before you upload it. Documentation and/or tutorials available from the software publisher should assist you in learning how to use the software.
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Sharing the password
One of the steps in encrypting a data file is to apply a password that the recipient will have to use in the decryption process.
There are some on-line strategies that can be employed to generate and share such a password. However, the most secure and our recommended method is to share the password you apply by phoning the recipient.
Alternatively, a fairly secure on-line way of sharing a password is available if both parties are LastPass (password management software) account holders. Use the Secure Note function and "give" (instead of "share", which is the default) access to the note to the other LastPass user.
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