At HAMK, files are primarily encrypted using the 7-Zip program, which is freely available and pre-installed on computers managed by HAMK.

Encryption Instructions with 7-Zip File Manager

Open the 7-Zip program on your computer (search or start menu).

1. Navigate to the directory containing the material to be encrypted using the 7-Zip file browser.
2. Select the material to be encrypted (either a folder or a file)
3. Click the Add button

4. Set the parameters for the encrypted file:

1. Archive: Name the file so that it does not reveal its contents; keep the file extension (e.g., encrypted.7z).
2. Format: Ensure the format is set to 7z.
3. Enter & reenter password: Set a password for the file. It must comply with the organization’s password policy and be at least 20 characters long.
4. Encrypt method: Make sure the selection is AES-256 and check the Encrypt file names option.
5. No other settings need to be changed. Start encrypting the file by clicking OK.

If the password is forgotten, the encrypted file cannot be opened by any means.

Decrypting the File

Start the 7-Zip program, select the file, and click Extract.

Then, in the window that opens, select the correct folder (Extract to), enter the password, and click OK.