Double-click to open/edit/view encrypted files: Double click any
file encrypted by AxCrypt and a password dialog automatically opens. Enter your
password and click in the checkbox next to "Remember this for decryption" (see above image).
You no longer need to enter your password to access the file until the next time
you log off or restart your computer. Right click the file and choose "Clear
Passphrase Memory" to once again require a password to decrypt and access the file
(see image below).
Automatic re-encryption: Some encryption applications require
that you manually re-encrypt a file after you finish working with it. You have to
choose to encrypt the file and manually enter your password. What if you forget to
re-encrypt the file? Obviously, you loose the protection encryption offers.
AxCrypt automatically re-encrypts the file once you close it. Humans are often
the weak link in computer security. Automatic re-encryption eliminates one
potential security weakness.
Integrated file shredder: When you choose to delete a file
from your computer it IS NOT actually removed from the computer. The reference to
the file is removed from the file system table which is essentially a master list
of all the files on the computer. The deleted file MAY eventually be overwritten
by new files added to your computer's hard drive. However, until it is overwritten
it can be retrieved by someone who knows how and has the tools (freely available
on the Internet) to retrieve it.
AxCrypt's file shredder and deletion feature overwrites a file in such a way that
makes it extremely difficult to retrieve. Any database, spreadsheet, Word document
or other file that holds personally identifying information should be securely
shredded/deleted using AxCrypt's file shredder and deletion feature.
Securely removing files is especially important
should you ever sell or donate your computer, it's hard drive or any flash or
portable drives. I recommend a FREE application called
Eraser to securely erase entire drives or disks.
Secure information you send by e-mail:
You can encrypt any file with AxCrypt and send it as an attachment to an e-mail.
Relay the files password to the recipient in advance of sending the file. The
recipient must also have AxCrypt installed on their computer. AxCrypt can also
create "self decrypting files". The recipient of a "self decrypting
file" does not need to have AxCrypt or any special software installed on
their computer.
A "self decrypting file" is any file that is encrypted/scrambled and packaged in
such a way that it can be automatically unencrypted by entering a password. The
self decrypting file is in a sense a package that holds what you want to send.
However, the contents of the package are stored in an encrypted state. The
information the "self decrypting file" contains is protected and can be safely
sent over the Internet as an attachment to e-mail. To decrypt and open the self
decrypting file the recipient double clicks it. A password dialog opens where
the password can be entered. To create a self decrypting file:
right click the file you want to transform into a self decrypting file
go to "AxCrypt" on the menu
click on "Encrypt copy to .EXE" on the secondary menu
enter and verify a passphrase/word in the dialog box
click the "OK" button
Your original file is left unchanged. A new, additional file will be generated
with the same name as your original. However, the new file will have the 3 letter
extension ".exe" appended to it. For example, a file named "cust_orders.mdb" will
become "cust_orders.mdb.exe". This is your self decrypting file. This is the
file you can send as an attachment to an e-mail. The content of the file is not
changed other than the fact that it is encrypted.
