The security remains one of the most important issues today, especially when we want to protect documents or files with private and important information. One way to achieve this is through ZIP or RAR files.
Both files allow us to store various records and folders reducing its size considerably. What has turned them into two of the formats of compressed files most used and searched by users.
That is why today we are going to teach you how to how to protect with password ZIP or RAR files on Windows or Mac and thus be able to safeguard all the information contained there. To do this, follow in detail everything that we will teach you below.
Why put a password on files compressed with Rar or Zip?
The main reason why to place password to archives with rar or zip it is to increase the security of all the information contained in them. This will prevent third parties from accessing the data stored there without your authorization. Especially nowadays when the data security and private information of users seem to be much more vulnerable on the web.
Therefore, the only way to be able to safeguard our Privacy & Security of the data is that we have them protected with a password. For this it is necessary to compress them either in Rap or Zip format and then encrypt them.
This will allow if an intruder accesses your computer or it is shared use cannot access any of your information and will even allow you to share it by email securely, since only you and the person who knows the password will be able to access everything contained there.
Learn how to password protect WinRAR
be able to protect a RAR file with a security key is a process that everyone should be aware of, as this will allow compress files and encrypt them ensuring your confidentiality at all times.
That is why we will show you different methods to protect a WinRAR with a password below:
during compression
If you want to put the password during the compression process, then you will need to follow each of these steps:
- The first thing will be download WinRAR on your computer, for it you can do it from this .
- Once installed, the next thing will be to open it and choose the document or folder that you want to compress with a password. To do this, you must click on the “Add”.
- When the folder or file has been added, the following window will appear. In this case you must click on “set password”.
- Now in the new window that appears on the screen you will have to enter the password with which you will protect the RAR file. Keep in mind that you must confirm it and finally click on “To accept”.
- after this you password will have been created. In this way, every time someone wants to unzip this file, they will ask for the password to access it.
after compression
In case you want to put the password after the compression, then you will have to follow each of these steps:
- To start with this procedure you will have to enter WinRar and select the section “Tools”.
- In the drop-down menu that appears there, select the item “convert file” .
- The next thing will be to choose the RAR file that you want to encrypt.
- Now you will have to select the type of format, in this case it will be “RAR” and then click on “Compression”.
- In the new window you must select “set password”.
- Here you will have to write the password for the RAR file and confirm it. Now click on “To accept”.
- Automatically it will begin to convert RAR file already created and the password will be added.
When this process is finished, you RAR file will be compressed with a password. So you will have to access said security code every time you want to unzip it.
Discover how to protect a ZIP with a password
If you want to start protect your files or folders with ZIPSo here we are going to explain how to do it.
To do this, follow each of these methods:
during compression
To carry out this process during compression, then you will need to do it through 7-Zip following each of these steps:
- If you don’t have yet 7-zip installed on your computer, then it will be necessary to do so. For it enter this and make your download.
- Once installed, the next thing to do is search for the file or folder you want to include in the ZIP file. Once found, right click on it and in the dropdown menu select 7-Zip.
- There a new menu will open where you will select “add the file”.
- In the new window that opens on the screen you will be able to choose the name of the file, you can also select the level of compression and set password for encryption. You must write it twice to confirm it. Once all this is done, click on “Okay”.
In this way you will be creating your encrypted zip fileso every time you want to unzip it you will have to add the password.
after compression
If you already have a zip file, but it does not have any protection and you want to add a password to it, then you will need to do it through WinRAR, Taking into account that 7-zip it only allows you to encrypt during compression.
Therefore, follow each of these steps:
- To start you must open the file to be encrypted with WinRAR.
- once inside WinRAR You will have to select the tab “Tools” and in the dropdown menu select “convert file”.
- When you are inside the window of “Conversion” you will be able to convert different compressed files at the same time. Although it is usually set by default for the file or folder that you open. Here you must click on “Compression”
- In the new window that appears on the screen you will have to select the option “ZIP” in the “File format” and then click on “set password” either “set password”.
- A new window will open where you will have to type the password and then confirm it. You must also check the box “Encrypt File names” and finally click on “Okay”.
- Here you will get some new windows where you must select “To accept” until the new compressed file is created, but it is with a password protection.
The best alternatives to WinRAR and 7-Zip to compress files
If you are looking for alternatives other than WinRAR and 7-Zip for compress files, So here we are going to offer you a list with other options that you can start to take into account.
Let’s see next:
winzip.com
It allows you zip and unzip files in a very easy way, so you will not have problems using it. In addition, it offers you the possibility of protecting each of your files with passwords. Despite compressing ZIP formats, it is also compatible with other compression formats such as RAR, 7Z, TAR, VHD, XZ, ZIPX, among some others.
Ashampoo.com
Considered as one of the best alternatives for 7-Zip and WinRAR, which offers a free version that allows you to zip, unzip, and repair damaged files. In addition, you have some extra functions such as encryption to offer greater security to your information.
BandiZIP
It offers you a free version for Windows and will allow you to compress in formats ZIP, ZIPX, TGZ, 7Z, EXE, TAR, RAR, among many others available. In addition, it integrates very well with the Windows Explorer, so you can start it without the need to open the application. You can also use its paid professional version if you want something more advanced. Access your website from the following address https://es.bandisoft.com/bandizip/.
AZip
It is an open source program and one of the best alternative for compress and decompress ZIP files. In addition, it allows you recompress files that will allow you to get much smaller ZIP files. It runs under the windows operating system and it has advanced content search functions within a file. Access their website from the following address https://sourceforge.net/projects/azip/.
b1.org
It is available for the OS of Windows, Linux and Macwhich allows you to compress and decompress different formats such as RAR, 7Z, ZIP, TGZ, DEB, XPI, among many others. Furthermore, it allows you to place passwords on each of the compressed files to prevent third parties from reading them without your permission.
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