Protected folder Archives

Creating a password protected zip file is easy in Mac OS X and does not require any add-ons or downloads. Instead, use the zip utility that is bundled with all Macs.

This offers a simple way to protect a zip archive file from unwanted viewing access, as when a user attempts to decompress the contents of the zip archive, the correct password must be entered in order for the archive to extract.

How to Password Protect a Zip File from Mac OS X Command Line

If you&#;re familiar with the command line, the syntax of the encrypted zip command is as follows:

For encrypting multiple files with a password, such as folder or an entire directory, the syntax would be as follows:

If you&#;re not sure how to use that, read on to learn how to create zip archives encrypted with passwords. These encrypted zip files will maintain password protection across platforms, meaning you can send a protected zip file to a Windows user and they will still need to enter the password in order to view the contents.

Set a Zip Password in Mac OS X

You can create password protected archives of files and folders:

1. Launch the Terminal from the Applications > Utilities folder
2. Type the following command:
3. Enter and verify the password &#; don&#;t forget this

The resulting archive, in this case named &#;www.spearpointsecuritygroup.com&#;, is now encrypted with the password provided. The file that was encrypted, &#;www.spearpointsecuritygroup.com&#;, is now inaccessible without entering that password.

If you plan on compressing multiple files within a folder, you will want to slightly modify the command with the -er flag like so:

This is particularly important for encrypting zips of multiple files under OS X Mavericks.

Example: Zipping a Folder and Setting a Password

Here is an example of what this will look like from the command line, in this case we are compressing and password protecting the entire &#;Confidential&#; folder located within the users /Documents directory, and the password protected zip is being placed on the users desktop for easy access:

Notice the password will not display, this is normal behavior for the Terminal.

Notice that with a folder of multiple files, you will want to use the -er flag, the addition of the r indicates that zip will recursively compress and password protect all files in the folder.

Opening the Password Protected Zip

Despite being created at the command line, you do not need to unzip the file from the terminal, it can be expanded from the Mac OS X Finder or within Windows using standard unzipping apps. Just double click on the file, then enter the password, and it will decompress. You can also decompress the zip archive from the command line with:

Here are some use cases for password protected zip archives:

• Password protecting an individual file or directory
• Sending a sensitive and encrypted file over an unencrypted network
• Emailing confidential data to a Windows user
• Adding an additional layer of security to a hidden folder
• Password protecting your own backups, outside of Time Machine

While this can provide some protection on a per-file or folder basis, it&#;s always a good idea to password protect the Mac in general with a login requirement on system boot, wake from sleep, and waking from the screen saver.

Keep in mind that password protected zip files are not encrypted with some super strong deep encryption method, so if you want a more secure file encryption, you may want to pass a regular zip file through openSSL encryption with des3 or something similar to really make the file secure.

Keeping your personal files protected all the time is extremely important. Setting up passwords for certain files, folders, or zip packages is recommended especially if there are other persons who have access to your Windows 10 device.

Also, if you share files between different computers, or use a network that’s not properly secured, the best is to set individual passwords for your most important files.

That’s why we want to show you the best security solutions that can be used to password protect zip files in Windows

For regular files and folders, you can use built-in Windows 10 features and set individual encrypted passwords.

Unfortunately, when discussing zip files it’s more complicated to find the right security alternatives – no, you cannot set passwords for protecting zip files in Windows 10 by default.

Thus, third-party solutions must be applied instead.

And since there are different tools available on the web, it’s indicated to choose wisely.

Avoid a nightmare and keep track of all your passwords with a password manager tool!

How to add password to a zip file on Windows 10?

1. Use WinZip

WinZip is a tool that has been downloaded over 1 billion times, which means that it has great features in it. And it has, indeed. Here is a quick guide on how to password protect a file that you want to zip using WinZip.

1. Download now WinZip (free) from this link and install it on your machine
2. Once installed, open it, and click Create/Share on the top options pane so it opens the main actions menu
3. Do not forget to activate the Encrypt option in the right ACTIONS menu
4. Drag a file from the navigator menu on the right into the www.spearpointsecuritygroup.com center space
5. When a file is dragged, if you enabled the Encrypt function the set your password window will appear
6. After setting your password, you also will need to set the encryption setting and you&#;re done! Now you have a military-grade encrypted, password-protected ZIP file.

2. Use WinRAR

WinRAR is maybe the most popular tool used in the Windows 10 system. Of course, WinRAR can help you easily compress files and folders into one compressed file.

Additionally, and few know this aspect, WinRAR can also be used for setting up a password for the compressed file.

Thus, in our situation, we can use this free-distributed app for securing our zip files. Here is how we can do this operation:

1. Of course, start by downloading the WinRAR client – you can get the software from this page.
2. Follow on-screen prompts and install this program – just click on the executable WinRAR file.
3. Next, choose the file which you want to compress and secure.
4. Right-click on this file and from the list that will be displayed choose ‘Add to archive…’.
5. From the window that will be displayed, under the General tab, enter a name for the future zip file, choose the Archive format (click on ZIP) and before selecting OK for confirming your changes, click on Set password.
6. When prompted, enter your passwords and re-enter it for confirmation.
7. Apply the changes and that’s it.

Now, if you want to set a password for an already compressed file, follow these steps:

1. Open WinRAR and click on Tools.
2. Then, select Convert archives from the Tools options.
3. From Convert archives, under Archive types keep the zip option checked.
4. Choose the location where you want to place the protected zip and then click on the Compression… button.
5. The Set default compression options window will be displayed. Under the General tab click on Set password… and enter your password.
6. Complete the validation process and save your work.

3. Use 7-Zip

Unlike WinRAR, through 7-Zip you won’t be able to set a password for an existing compressed zip file.

This software will let you set up one password only during the zip process.

So, for already compressed packages, you will have to unzip first and re-zip afterward.

Anyway, 7-Zip is also free and offers an intuitive interface, just as we noticed with the WinRAR client.

As you will notice, both platforms are quite similar so just choose the one that you prefer the most, or try them both and decide afterward which solution is best for what you wish to accomplish.

1. One more, first of all, download the program on your Windows 10 system – you can get it from here.
2. Install 7-Zip on your device – run the executable file and then follow on-screen prompts.
3. Choose the file you want to compress and right-click on it.
4. Pick Add to archive.
5. Under the Add to Archive window, you need to: enter a name for the file, set an archive format, and enter an encryption solution.
6. So, set the password for protecting the future zip file.
7. When done, click on OK.
8. That’s it.

These are the easiest ways in which you can protect a zip file by setting up a dedicated password. Keep in mind that Windows 10 doesn’t offer a built-in solution for completing this encryption.

However, by using the tools listed above you can easily protect any zip file you want.

Both WinRAR and 7-Zip are open-source platforms, so you can download and use them for free.

Want to password protect compressed folders in Windows 10? Check out our complete guide!

Now, if you can’t manage to set a password for your ZIP file in Windows 10, we are here to assist you.

Use the comment section below to tell us more about your issue, and we will find the perfect explanations in order to make everything crystal clear.

FAQ: Learn more about password-protecting ZIP files

• Can you password protect a zip file in Windows 10?

Yes, there are specialized tools that you can use for encrypting ZIP files as you would do with a regular file. Check out our top picks for software to easily password protect ZIP files in Windows

• How do I password protect a zipped folder?

You can use WinZip to password protect both zipped files and folders. Here&#;s a complete list of software alternatives you can try out for this task.

• How can I password protect a folder in Windows 10 without software?

When it comes to zipped files, there is no native Windows 10 solution, you must run a command via elevated Command Prompt. If you cannot run the Prompt as an admin, follow these easy steps.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in April and has been since revamped and updated in July for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

7-Zip is an open source software used to compress or zip files secured with encryption.

When you send or transfer files that contain Personal Identifiable Information (PII) or other confidential and sensitive data, the files must be encrypted to ensure they are protected from unauthorized disclosure.

For Mac OS instructions, please visit: www.spearpointsecuritygroup.com

7-Zip, like WinZip, creates a container called archive that holds the files to be protected. That archive can be encrypted and protected with a password. 7-Zip is a free software that creates Zip files that can be opened with WinZip or other similar programs.

To obtain a copy of 7-Zip, please see www.spearpointsecuritygroup.com and select the Download link.

Once the software is installed, please follow these steps to encrypt a file or folder.

Step 1: Right click on the file / folder to be encrypted.

Step 2: Select &#;7-Zip&#; then &#;Add to archive&#;&#;

Step 3: In the Add to Archive window change the name of the archive you wish to create.

Step 4: Change the Archive format to &#;Zip&#;.

Step 5: Change the Encryption Method to &#;AES&#;.

There is a trade-off between using AES and ZipCrypto. AES is proven much more secure than ZipCrypto, but if you select AES the recipient of the zip file may have to install 7-zip or another zip program to read the file contents. Selecting ZipCrypto may allow users to open the zip file in Windows without a zip program, but it does not provide adequate protection against attackers with modern cracking tools.

It is strongly recommended to use AES to protect sensitive and confidential data.

Step 6: Enter a Password. Use a strong password with at least 8 characters containing upper and lowercase letters, and a minimum of one number.

Step 7: Select &#;Ok&#; to create the encrypted archive file. The new archive file will be located in the same folder as the original.

Best security practices recommend that you do not email the password with the Zip file as it could be intercepted in transit. It is better to call the recipient of the Zip file and convey the password over the phone.