Windows 7 includes the BitLocker system application, which is designed to encrypt drives in general. Unfortunately, it is available only in the "older" versions of this system - "Maximum" and "Corporate". But in other versions of the OS it is possible to encrypt individual files and folders. It is implemented using the EFS encryption add-on over the main NTFS file system.
Necessary
Windows 7 OS
Instructions
Step 1
The easiest way to enable the encryption of an individual file or all objects in a directory is through the standard Windows file manager - "Explorer". Open it by double-clicking on the "Computer" shortcut on the desktop or by selecting the item with the same name in the main menu of the OS.
Step 2
In the window of this program, navigate to the directory containing the file for which you want to enable encryption. Click on it with the right mouse button and in the pop-up menu, activate the "Properties" item.
Step 3
The "General" tab of the file properties window at its bottom contains the "Others" button - click it. In a new window that will open as a result, there is a section "Compression and encryption attributes" with the "Encrypt content to protect data" checkbox. Check this box and click OK.
Step 4
Click OK and in the file properties window, after which an explanation will appear on the screen that encrypting a single file without applying this operation to the folder as a whole is not effective enough. In the window you need to check one of the two options - "Encrypt the file and its containing folder" or "Encrypt file only". Make your selection and click OK.
Step 5
If any of the encrypted files is blocked from changes at this moment, the OS will display a corresponding message and offer to either cancel the operation or skip this object. In order not to get confused, it is better to cancel the operation, close the application that is blocking the file, and repeat the procedure.
Step 6
When encrypting for the first time, the OS will offer you to create a backup copy of the certificate and encryption key - a message about this will pop up in the notification area of the taskbar (in the tray). Click on this message and the "Certificate Export Wizard" will be launched. Follow his instructions, and it is better to store the file created as a result of work separately from the computer - for example, on a flash drive.
