Help creating password protected file

[Shiz Niticus]

Using TrueCrypt, I used to be able to create a file that was encrypted but did not require you to mount the file with TrueCrypt first to open it. When open the file, it prompted you for the password and you would then see the contents.

It was great because I could encrpypt things for friends or family and send it securely to them and they didnt need to have or more importantly, know how to use TrueCrypt to benefit from it.

It's been several years and I'm trying to figure out how I did it then, but I can't.

Am I imagining things? Maybe it was some other app. I could've sworn it was TrueCrypt.

Thank you kindly in advance.

[Adrian Kentleton]

a. You are imagining things. Truecrypt cannot (just like VC) encrypt files, only create encrypted volumes (files or partitions) in which you can store files encrypted. You have to mount the volumes to a mount point, using a password, to access the files. Though you could send a TC file container eg by email to someone else, they'd have to have TC (possibly the portable version) to open (mount) it, and access its contents.
b. It's not possible to password protect or encrypt a file without some software; it's not possible to decrypt (or open with password) a file without some software; not necessarily the same software, but something compatible with the original.
c. I have recommended tryng EncryptOnClick because it is a 'portable app' ie can be installed into any folder eg on a USB stick. This means you could put an encrypted file in a folder containing the EncryptOnClick software, 'zip' the folder up and send it to someone else, who could then extract all the files, and decrypt the file you created with the EncryptOnClick software you've also supplied. You just need to provide the password, via (for security reasons) via some other route.

[Philip Smith]

There are a lot of programs that can do what you want simple google search will do.

Also you probably have 7zip or win zip most of those type of programs can do it.

[Adrian Kentleton]

May I respectfully suggest that if someone asks for help in this forum, you don't get involved unless you've got a specific solution to offer. Telling them to ask somewhere else ('simple google search will do') is not helping!

[Adrian Kentleton]

Try BrightSparks EncryptOnClick.

[Philip Smith]

Adrian Kentleton is not what he wants from the site.
Quote
"If the filenames are not encrypted then the encrypted files created by EncryptOnClick can also be decrypted using WinZip 9 and newer (provided the correct password is used). If the filenames are encrypted then they can be decrypted using SecureZip (provided the correct password is used)."
If he sends the file to someone and they do not have the above program it won't work.

You need the program to decrypt the file,

[Adrian Kentleton]

May I respectfully ask, how do you think it may be possible to encrypt or password protect a file without some software to do so, and, conversely, decrypt or open via password the file without some software the same as, or compatible with, that originally used?

[Shiz Niticus]

Thanks everyone for your input. I think I'm going to go the 7-zip route but I will look into the other suggestions.

Thanks again

[Shiz Niticus]

I have a follow up question if anyone would care to answer. Is what 7-zip does, where you incorporate a password to open, not considered encryption?

Secondly, other than brute force password attacks on a 7-zip password protected file, is this protection relatively secure?

[Philip Smith]

Adrian Kentleton
Quote "May I respectfully ask," When someone starts a question like that the meaning is usually the exact opposite.

NO one said create it without software, if you read above the person encrypted a file sent it to someone and they could easily open it with the password.

Do a search "how to create a password protected self extracting .exe file"

Shiz Niticus
I don't know how secure 7zip is, I don't use it for sending files.
There are quite a few security programs that can do the same.

Process
How to Use 7Zip to Create Self Extracting excutables: 5 Steps

If I put in the url it take days to moderate so it will come up first in google.