Online storage services like DropBox, SkyDrive or Google Drive are
good for backup your files. It is convenient to backup important files
online, but it also poses a security risk. Because even if the companies
behind the cloud storage guarantee your privacy, it’s always possible
that your account gets hacked. If you want to use such cloud storage for
backups, it’s a good idea to keep your important private data really
private. That means only uploading encrypted files to make sure no one
else can access your data. You have several options to encrypt files
before they are uploaded to a remote cloud storage server. One of the
easiest options available is CryptSync, a free program for Windows.
Download and installation of CryptSync are very straightforward. When you first start CryptSync, the main dialog is shown where you have to set up the folders to synchronize. CryptSync allows to specify a pair of folders as source and destination, and then sync file changes at both ends. Anything copied or saved to the source folder gets encrypted by 7-Zip, synced to the destination folder. If a file is added or modified in the encrypted folder, it gets decrypted to the source folder.
To add a folder pair, click on the button and then enter the paths to both folders. Then enter the password that will be used to encrypt and decrypt your files. Make sure you use a different password to encrypt the data with CryptSync than you use to login to your cloud storage provider!
Files in the encrypted folder are encrypted and ready for uploading to an online storage server. If someone managed to steal your account password for your Dropbox, SkyDrive, or Google Drive, it is difficult for him to access your important private data since your files are encrypted. Using CryptSync doesn’t mean you have to encrypt all your online files. You might use the program to protect a few personal documents, while leaving media files as they were before.
CryptSync is completely free. It works on all Windows platforms, from XP to Windows 8, on both 32-bit and 64-bit editions. If you are looking for an automated way to protect files that you store at online storage providers then CryptSync is definitely one of the programs you should try.
Download and installation of CryptSync are very straightforward. When you first start CryptSync, the main dialog is shown where you have to set up the folders to synchronize. CryptSync allows to specify a pair of folders as source and destination, and then sync file changes at both ends. Anything copied or saved to the source folder gets encrypted by 7-Zip, synced to the destination folder. If a file is added or modified in the encrypted folder, it gets decrypted to the source folder.
To add a folder pair, click on the button and then enter the paths to both folders. Then enter the password that will be used to encrypt and decrypt your files. Make sure you use a different password to encrypt the data with CryptSync than you use to login to your cloud storage provider!
Files in the encrypted folder are encrypted and ready for uploading to an online storage server. If someone managed to steal your account password for your Dropbox, SkyDrive, or Google Drive, it is difficult for him to access your important private data since your files are encrypted. Using CryptSync doesn’t mean you have to encrypt all your online files. You might use the program to protect a few personal documents, while leaving media files as they were before.
CryptSync is completely free. It works on all Windows platforms, from XP to Windows 8, on both 32-bit and 64-bit editions. If you are looking for an automated way to protect files that you store at online storage providers then CryptSync is definitely one of the programs you should try.
