Online Self Defense – File Encryption

I recently posted instructions explaining how to encrypt your email for free in order to defend against hackers, corporations, and governments stealing your emails.  Here’s a short follow up on encrypting your files.

Many of us have important information on our computers, and if it were stolen it could do us more damage than having a wallet or purse stolen.  While many people think about protecting their wallets and purses, they don’t give nearly enough consideration to their digital information.  Furthermore, protecting your files is a lot easier than learning physical self defense!  The easiest way to make your files inaccessible to hackers is to encrypt them.  Download and install Truecrypt.  It works on both Windows and the Mac OS, and you can choose to encrypt everything from single files to your entire computer.

I find the most convenient feature to be creating an encrypted folder, disguised as a corrupt file.  All you do is type in your password, and the file appears as a drive where you can store your most important data.  Give it a try, and protect yourself online!