File Encryption Software

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What Does File Encryption Software Mean?

File encryption software is a program designed to guard the contents of computer files via the use of algorithms and adjoining keys. The software is designed specifically for the purpose of protecting data in documents, applications and operating system (OS) files by scrambling that data with an algorithm before it is transferred. Only a user with the algorithm key can unscramble, or decrypt, the file.

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Techopedia Explains File Encryption Software

File encryption software primarily works with one or more encryption algorithms. Typically, each file is encrypted using a unique encryption key within the software. Similarly, the software also generates a decryption key that can only decrypt that on set of encrypted data.

The file encryption software itself is also protected by requiring the user to provide a valid user name and password for using its encryption services.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology expert

Margaret is an award-winning writer and educator known for her ability to explain complex technical topics to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles in the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret’s idea of ​​a fun day is to help IT and business professionals to learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.