Encryption is a method which allows information to be hidden so that it cannot be read without special knowledge or tools. To encrypt a file, you’ll usually need a software that is able to encrypt the file and then you’ll also need to create a key which only you and the person who needs to decode the file will know. Just like you putting important documents or money in a safe box which is then locked with a key or secret code. You can never let other people have the key or the secret code because that will allow other people to open your safe and steal whatever its in there.
Same with computer. Today I found a very interesting encryption software which is able to encrypt files and folders without using password. Instead, it uses pictures or images as the key to perform encryption and decryption. Very innovative! Using pictures or images as key might be a good idea because nowadays people have not one, but dozens of passwords. It can be hard to remember them, and you might lose precious data when you forget them.
PixelCryptor lets you choose a picture and use it to combine your files into a package. The pixel data is used to encrypt your data. The combinations are endless and hard to break. Currently there is no backdoor or workarounds. Once encrypted, it cannot be unlocked without the correct picture file.
To encrypt a file with PixelCryptor:
1. Download and install PixelCryptor.
2. Click Encode Files button.
3. You can click Add Folder or Add File to add the files that you want to encrypt. Drag and drop is also possible.
4. Click at the place where it says “Click here to select an image”, and browse the picture that you would like to use as a key.
5. Click on the small browse icon to select where you’d like to save the CGP encrypt file. Once the encryption is done, all files and folders that you selected just now will be packed into one CGP file.
That was really easy! What I really like about PixelCryptor is it’s very user friendly. PixelCryptor is portable. You can copy PixelCryptor folder from C:\Program Files\CodeGazer\ to your USB flash drive and run it on another computer. However, PixelCryptor requires Microsoft .NET 2.0 or newer to be installed in order to run. As for the picture file, I’d advice that you use the picture that you upload yourself and not from some website. Reason is if the website is down, you won’t be able to decode your file. Or maybe the website decided to enhance the picture, it can’t be used to decrypt your file too.
There are even more powerful, proven to be strong encryption tool than PixelCryptor, but it’s a good alternative for basic users who just want to encrypt files without using passwords.