In a previous post, I wrote about how to encrypt your hard drive in order to keep your data safe. But what if you want to send the data by email or store it on an online drive?

If you want to make sure your data is secure you need to encrypt the files you are sending. The easiest way is to use a free app made by MacPaw called Encrypto. You can drop any file or folder into Encrypto, set a strong password and Encrypto adds AES-256 encryption to it.

installing Encrypto

Encrypto can be installed from the AppStore. The first time you run the application it will ask you to accept the terms and then a welcome screen is shown.

Click next a few times. On the last screen, you can click on skip if you do not want to be on the mailing list.

Encrypting and decrypting files and folders

To encrypt files simply start Encrypto.

Drag the file or folder you want to encrypt into encrypto.

Give it a password and optionally a hint. Click on Encrypt. Encrypto will encrypt the file. Click on Save As and give the encrypted file a name. The file will be saved and filename.crypto.

To reverse the process. Drag the encrypted file on Encrypto and supply the password.

The file will now be decrypted. You will be asked where you want to save the decrypted file and that's it.

Ecrypto is free, easy to use, and adds a bit more security to your digital life.