7-Zip is a data archiving utility program. It allows you to compress, uncompress and encrypt data in a number of formats including .zip, .tar, .wim and .7z. It's installed by default on most Windows computers on campus, and is accessible either from the Start Menu, or via a right-click context menu.
It is available on the Virtual Windows Desktop (through AppsAnywhere).
This is not a replacement for full disk encryption on mobile devices. It is also not a managed solution and should be used with care, lost passwords cannot be recovered.
Password Protecting Files and Folders with 7zip
7-Zip includes the facility to create an encrypted archive file. While this is suitable for most applications care should be taken and there are some caveats to be aware of:
- Even though the file contents will be encrypted, the filenames and folder structure within the archive will be readable, so care should be taken to ensure that file and folder names don't include sensitive information.
- If you add a new file to an existing archive that new file will not be encrypted.
- If using the .7z format, then the recipient of the archive will require 7-Zip to open the archive.
- This solution shouldn't be considered as an alternative to a dedicated encryption solution (e.g. Sophos Safeguard or Bitlocker).
- The password or passphrase set should be secure and should have some form of complexity and not be easy to guess.
- You will need to remember the password, it is not backed up and IT will not support recovering encrypted files with a forgotten password.
- If sending documents either electronically or physically do not email the password or store the password in the same location as the encrypted file or folder.
- Disclose the password to the file recipient over the phone or via a messaging application such as Microsoft Teams. Keep the file and password separate.
1. Right click on the files or folder you wish to compress and encrypt and go to 7-Zip > Add to archive....
The following window should appear and Most of the options can be left as their defaults:
2. Give your compressed file a name e.g. Folder.zip.
3. Ensure that the Archive format is zip.
4. Change the encryption method from ZipCrypto to AES-256 for strong encryption.
5. Enter a secure password or passphrase.
6. Click OK.
7. Test the new archive file to ensure that the encryption is effective (i.e. it asks for a password before allowing extraction), and that it works on another computer.
Decrypting a 7zip File
1. Right Click the Secured .zip folder.
2. Select 7zip > Extract Files on the menus
3. This will open the 7zip Extract window.
4. Change the Extract to: field to the location you wish to extract the .zip file to and enter the password, the files will then be extracted to a Folder with the same name as the .zip file by default.
5. The extracted files are now accessible and no longer protected.