7 Apps I Use To Lock Down, Encrypt, And Store My Private Files - And Most Are Free

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ZDNET cardinal takeaway

• File and files information is important successful this time and age.
• There are apps you tin usage to heighten nan information of your files.
• These apps are free and disposable for desktop and mobile devices.

The request for security is high, and it gets higher pinch each passing day. It doesn't matter if you're utilizing a desktop, laptop, tablet, aliases phone; you request to make judge you've done everything you tin to support your documents and files unafraid from prying eyes.

But how? Is your device's operating strategy enough? Probably not. That being nan case, what do you do? You surely shouldn't time off nan information of your files to chance, arsenic that is conscionable inviting trouble.

I've created a short database of apps that tin thief adhd a basal level of security to your documents and files. Of course, an app unsocial isn't enough; you besides person to stay vigilant astir really you stock files and who has entree to your devices. At nan aforesaid time, you perfectly must guarantee that your operating strategy and each apps are ever up to date; otherwise, you consequence information vulnerabilities.

Also: How to alteration your IP reside pinch a VPN (and why you should)

With that said, let's get to nan apps.

1. Censor

Censor is simply a one-trick pony, but that instrumentality tin beryllium very helpful. Censor is simply a Linux app for redacting PDFs. That's right, we're talking astir redaction. I've utilized this app galore times complete nan years, and each clip I do, I'm thankful it's location because it makes nan task of redacting PDFs astir arsenic elemental arsenic it gets.

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If you person documents that incorporate delicate information, but you request to stock those files pinch personification other (who shouldn't person entree to definite information), you tin simply redact those sections, prevention nan PDF, and nonstop it away. 

Censor is incredibly easy to usage and is free.

2. DocVault: My Document Manager.

The main intent of DocVault is to simplify archive guidance connected your mobile device. However, DocVault besides has nan expertise to password-protect nan app itself, truthful only those pinch your instrumentality PIN, password, aliases biometrics are capable to unfastened nan app and summation entree to nan documents within. 

With DocVault, you tin adhd items for illustration slope information, IDs, conveyance information, invoices, insurance, passwords, and more.  My only nit to prime pinch DocVault is that I would besides for illustration to beryllium capable to adhd other passwords to uber-sensitive files. 

DocVault is free to usage and is disposable for Android.

3. Nextcloud

I'm a large advocator of pulling important and delicate documents from unreality retention and redeeming them to a locally deployed server, specified arsenic Nextcloud. Nextcloud makes it imaginable for you to person your ain Google Workspace-like work connected your LAN, wherever you tin store, create, and negociate your documents without worrying that a 3rd statement could perchance summation entree to those documents for nan intent of creating a floor plan connected you aliases for training LLMs. You do not want either of those to happen.

Also: Nextcloud Office vs. OnlyOffice: I tested some to find nan champion Microsoft 365 alternative

With Nextcloud, you tin adhd each nan apps you request to create an full ecosystem that only you tin entree (unless you create accounts for different users). 

Nextcloud is free and tin beryllium installed connected Linux, MacOS, and Windows.

4. CryptoMater

Imagine your unreality retention supplier allowed you to create passwords for circumstantial folders. Wouldn't that beryllium nice? Well, pinch CryptoMater, you tin do conscionable that (and more). With CryptoMater, you delegate a password to immoderate files you want, and you don't person to interest astir encryption keys aliases thing else. It conscionable works, simply and reliably.

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For individuals, CryptoMater is unfastened source, free, and tin beryllium utilized pinch Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and different locations. 

CryptoMater is disposable for Linux, MacOS, Windows, Android, and iOS.

5. VeraCrypt

VeraCrypt is simply a free, open-source disk encryption package that is disposable for Linux, MacOS, and Windows. With VeraCrypt, you create a virtual encrypted disk connected your soul thrust that tin past beryllium utilized to shop files and folders. Here's really VeraCrypt works:

1. Create Volume: Create a record instrumentality aliases encrypt a drive, selecting encryption settings and a beardown password.
2. Mount nan volume: You prime nan instrumentality file, prime a thrust letter, and participate nan password.
3. Use nan volume: The instrumentality appears arsenic a new, modular thrust successful your record explorer, wherever you tin add, remove, and negociate files and folders.
4. Unmount nan volume: When you're done moving pinch your files, you "unmount" nan volume, which locks it and makes each information inaccessible.

For me, VeraCrypt is an basal instrumentality for protecting delicate files and folders.

6. The Vault

The Vault is simply a MacOS and iOS app that simplifies nan unafraid retention of each your passwords, login credentials, and immoderate different confidential information. Even better, The Vault syncs each of your secured accusation betwixt your Apple devices, truthful you ever person that delicate information connected hand.

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The Vault holds passwords, photos, documents, and more. This app uses beardown encryption, tin activity pinch biometrics, supports Duress protection, includes a force-lock feature, supports password autofill, and overmuch more.

The 1 caveat is that The Vault is not free. You'll salary $24.99 for this highly unafraid app, but if you really worth nan information of your files and folders and want to beryllium capable to entree it crossed nan Apple ecosystem, this is simply a awesome measurement to go.

7. KeePassXC

Finally, there's nan open-source KeePassXC. This app is simply a password manager, but it besides allows you to adhd files to an entry. For instance, you could create an introduction for your online schoolhouse relationship and past adhd files specified arsenic transcripts aliases different documents of a delicate nature.

Also: My apical 5 password managers for Linux - and my favourite useful connected Windows and MacOS too

Once you've created nan introduction and added those documents, nan only measurement to entree them is to unlock nan associated encrypted KeePassXC vault.

If you've utilized immoderate password manager, you tin usage KeePassXC. KeePassXC does not see its ain cloud-based retention and sync service, but it does support nan likes of Dropbox and Google Drive, and you tin moreover group up a KeePassXC server connected your LAN.

KeePassXC is free to instal and usage connected Linux, MacOS, Windows, Android, and iOS.