Using encryption software to protect your sensitive data

Encryption is one of the best ways to keep your files secure and private. Encryption algorithms scramble your data into a meaningless jumble that no one can read unless they have the password that was used to scramble the data. The US government and military use encryption to keep classified documents and other files safe and secure from enemies. The average computer user can use encryption to secure their data from the prying eyes of identity thieves and other online predators.

Possible uses for encryption
-Keeping you financial records out of other's hands.
-Keeping a master password file (all your various online passwords) out of other's hands.
-Making sure others can't view your private pictures or videos.
- Keeping you business data out of your competitors hands.
-Preventing your kids from viewing mature content files.
-Sending emails that network snoops can't read.

Kinds of encryption programs to use
First and foremost you should only use encryption software that is open source (and free). It is a very bad idea to use any file encryption software that is not open source. The reason for this is that no one really knows exactly what a compiled binary program does. Non-open source encryption software could have a "backdoor" or a design flaw that compromises your security (there is no easy way to know if non-open source software is secure, you just have to blindly trust the author of the encryption software. On the other hand, with open source software the computer code used to make the program is available for anyone to see and make sure there are no security holes. Also, did I mention that open source software is typically free!

Free file encryption software
TrueCrypt is a fantastic free file encryption program that allows you to create an encrypted container (the software equivalent to a real safe in the physical world) that you can put files into and then lock the files). When you mount a TrueCrypt file it creates a virtual encrypted disk with a drive letter (like C: drive). To encrypt files you simply move your files into that virtual disk and the are encrypted in real time on the fly. Then when you dismount the virtual drive your files are locked away tightly. It is very easy to install and use TrueCrypt. TrueCrypt supports several different encryption algorithms including 256 bit AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) which is the same encryption that the US government uses. Installing TrueCrypt is easy. Just run the setup and use the default settings.

AxCrypt is another free encryption program for encrypting single files. You can encrypt a file simply by right clicking on it. AxCrypt encrypts files with 128 bit AES (not military grade encryption but still pretty much unbreakable provided you used a good password). I like to use AxCrypt to encrypt sensitive email attachments. The recipient of your emails does not even have to have AxCrypt installed, they only need to know the password for the file (you can share the password with your friend by an offline method like in person or on the phone). To install AxCrypt you can use all of the default setting (you can decide whether you want to be receive notifications about program updates).

Videos
1. Using TrueCrypt.
2. Using AxCrypt

Rules for good passwords
1. Don't use words in the dictionary.
2. Use a combination of both upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols.
3. Don't use personal information like your name, birth date, address, ...
4. Passwords should not be easy to guess.
5. Longer passwords are better than short ones (13 characters or more are pretty much unbreakable by brute force methods).