Embedded Files
Ready to learn how to encrypt files or folders using free software? Below, you will learn how to create encrypted backups for placement on external hard drives or saving to cloud storage (e.g. Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox).
Ready to learn how to encrypt files or folders using free software? Below, you will learn how to create encrypted backups for placement on external hard drives or saving to cloud storage (e.g. Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox).
Ready to Encrypt Your Data?
Ready to Encrypt Your Data?
Topics
Topics
- Obstacles to Overcome
- Encryption Tools
File and Folder
Text Encryption
- Creating Backups of Data to Local or Cloud Storage
1 - Obstacles to Overcome
1 - Obstacles to Overcome
Recent attack vectors have left educators reeling from massive data breaches due to ignorance and a lack of consistent procedures for safeguarding sensitive data.
Recent attack vectors have left educators reeling from massive data breaches due to ignorance and a lack of consistent procedures for safeguarding sensitive data.
Most recent breach announced this week?
Most recent breach announced this week?
Just as hackers employ encryption to deny access to data on an ransomware-infected machine, so can educators and students learn to use encryption to prevent unauthorized access to data. Popular data encryption tools are available. Are you using them?
Just as hackers employ encryption to deny access to data on an ransomware-infected machine, so can educators and students learn to use encryption to prevent unauthorized access to data. Popular data encryption tools are available. Are you using them?
Did You Know?
Did You Know?
Encryption Safe Harbor
Encryption Safe Harbor
Did you know that if data is encrypted and a data breach occurs, you are not obligated to report it? This is the power of data encryption and can potentially spare the District from unnecessary litigation and expense.
Did you know that if data is encrypted and a data breach occurs, you are not obligated to report it? This is the power of data encryption and can potentially spare the District from unnecessary litigation and expense.
Tips:
Tips:
Texas Safe Harbor law protects organizations that encrypt data should that data be lost or stolen.
Avoid sending decrypted confidential information via email or as email attachments.
Avoid saving decrypted files to portable devices (e.g. laptops, tablets) and/or storage media (e.g. USB flash drives, pendrives, sticks, hard drives).
Always encrypt sensitive data before sending it to a third party solution provider.
NEVER place decrypted sensitive files online on an internet server and/or in cloud storage.
2 - Encryption Tools
2 - Encryption Tools
Let's explore how to encrypt both text and files using AES-256 encryption. There are various ways to accomplish this. Find the way that works best in your environment and implement it consistently.
Let's explore how to encrypt both text and files using AES-256 encryption. There are various ways to accomplish this. Find the way that works best in your environment and implement it consistently.
Make sure to use a secure password generator and to protect sharing that password with end to end encryption tool (e.g. Signal).
Make sure to use a secure password generator and to protect sharing that password with end to end encryption tool (e.g. Signal).
Text Encryption
Text Encryption
You can use a variety of text encryption solutions. These are ideal for text/email messages you might send on your smartphone, as well as via a computer.
You can use a variety of text encryption solutions. These are ideal for text/email messages you might send on your smartphone, as well as via a computer.
Tool #1: Paranoia Text Encryption
Tool #1: Paranoia Text Encryption
iOS | Android | Windows | Mac | Web version
Tool #2: Browser-based Text Encryption
Tool #2: Browser-based Text Encryption
File Encryption
File Encryption
Encrypting files with AES-256 can be done with a variety of tools. Here are a few you can use that are free. A few tools include:
Encrypting files with AES-256 can be done with a variety of tools. Here are a few you can use that are free. A few tools include:
FileLock.org - A browser-based solution that works well for Chromebooks. Encrypt individual files via your web browser.
7zip for Windows - This is a zip/7zip compression program that combines multiple files into one. Works great with a wide variety of files. Think of it as putting a folder of files into ONE file that is compressed for space and encrypted for security.
Keka Zip for Macs - This is the same thing as 7zip but for Mac computers.
Paranoia's Secure Space Encryptor (SSE) - Here is (what I think) is the best cross-platform encryption tool available. It works on the most platforms (e.g. Android, Mac, Windows). One of the features is that it can take a folder of files and encrypt them all into ONE file.
3 - Data Backups to Local/Cloud Storage
3 - Data Backups to Local/Cloud Storage
From ransomware to simply human error, it's easy to lose data. That's why it's important to make regular data backups. Most people don't know how, so they tend to rely on cloud storage or nothing.
From ransomware to simply human error, it's easy to lose data. That's why it's important to make regular data backups. Most people don't know how, so they tend to rely on cloud storage or nothing.
One way to avoid that is to get a USB external drive (2 terabytes is plenty. USB external drives last three to five years on average, so you may want to invest in one every three years to backup your data). You can use free tools to automate backups.
One way to avoid that is to get a USB external drive (2 terabytes is plenty. USB external drives last three to five years on average, so you may want to invest in one every three years to backup your data). You can use free tools to automate backups.
Take advantage of these tools, and spend the time to learn how to backup your files.
Take advantage of these tools, and spend the time to learn how to backup your files.
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