Encryption Tool

There are three secure encryption formats in PowerArchiver:

• PAE encryption - special encryption container format and can be used for all different archives supported in PowerArchiver.
• ZIP AES encryption - new secure ZIP encryption, usable with newest versions of most popular zip utilities (recommended for compatibility).
• 7-Zip AES encryption - AES encryption when you use 7-Zip format for compression.

PowerArchiver features secure encryption in the form of .pae files. By using PowerArchiver's encryption tool, you can secure any data on your computer with the most powerful encryption formats currently in use. This becomes especially convenient when you need to send important data via e-mail or FTP. Additionally, PowerArchiver is able to intelligently handle PAE files, so if you encrypt an archive (such as a zip or cab file, or any other supported format), PowerArchiver will handle the archive transparently the next time you open the .pae file.

To start the tool, select „Encrypt“ from the „Tools“ menu/tab.

At the Encrypt dialog window, you will need to do several things:

• Select Source File - select the file that is going to be encrypted. You can select any file you wish, but we recommend using archives because PowerArchiver can then intelligently handle them.
• Select Destination File - enter the name and location of your future encrypted file.
• Encryption Format - Select format you want to to encrypt file/archive to.
• ZIP - encrypt file/archive in ZIP format encryption including AES encryption. Encryption methods:
  • PK 2.04g - creates standard ZIP archives, with weak encryption but readable by all Zip utilities.
  • AES 128-bits - creates encrypted ZIP archives with AES 128-bit encryption, readable by newer Zip utilities (PowerArchiver 9.xx, PkZip 8.xx, WinZip 9.xx, etc).
  • AES 192-bits - creates encrypted ZIP archives with AES 192-bit encryption, readable by newer Zip utilities (PowerArchiver 9.xx, PkZip 8.xx, WinZip 9.xx, etc).
  • AES 256-bits - creates encrypted ZIP archives with AES 256-bit encryption, readable by newer Zip utilities (PowerArchiver 9.xx, PkZip 8.xx, WinZip 9.xx, etc).
• 7-Zip - encrypt file/archive in 7-Zip AES 256-bits format.

• PAE - encrypt selected file/archive in PAE container with following Encryption Methods:
  • PAE has 5 different methods of encryption available with AES (default) being the most secure. We recommend using AES for encryption since it has been elected as a new Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). Click here to find out more info from the AES website.

• Compression settings - select strength of compression (ZIP and 7-Zip only).
• Delete original file after encryption“ - when checked, file that was encrypted (source file) will be deleted after encryption.
• Hide filename - hides filename of encrypted file (PAE and 7-Zip only).
• Create SFX File - creates self-extracting encrypted file (.exe) that can be extracted without the use of PowerArchiver (PAE only).

After you have selected the options, click „Encrypt“ to finish the process and encrypt the file. PowerArchiver will then ask you for a password and you will have to enter it two (2) times.

Please note that it is very IMPORTANT that you do not forget your password. You will NOT be able to use the file if you forget the password. There is no way you can recover a forgotten PAE password.

Because PowerArchiver does not compress data in PAE files, we recommend using PAE together with an archive format of your choice for best results.

• PowerArchiver is able to intelligently handle archives inside of PAE files. If you open a PAE file that contains an archive such as „example.zip“, PowerArchiver will transparently open the archive and let you handle it as if it were a normal zip file. If you change or update an archive, PowerArchiver will ask you if you want to update the encrypted (.pae) file as well. Please remember that if you answer with „NO“, your changes will not be saved. You can also turn off transparent encrypted archive handling in „Options> Configuration> Misc.“.
• PowerArchiver's Password Manager is able to remember passwords of encrypted files. This option is turned off by default but if you are working in secure environment and use PAE only to send files via the Internet, then you can enable it so you do not have to enter a password each time you want to access your encrypted files. You can do so in „Options> Configuration> Password Manager“. Your passwords are saved using 256 bit AES encryption.

• You can create PAE files at the same time you create an archive in every format. Simply check „Encrypt archive after compressing“ in PowerArchiver's Add window, location under the Options tab. PowerArchiver will then load the encryption tool immediately after compression with predefined default options.
• You can use Explorer Shell Extensions to encrypt files with one click of the mouse. To do this, you can either enable „Encrypt“ shell extensions under „Configuration> Shell Extensions“ or simply use Compress with Options and check the „Encrypt Archive“ box.

PowerArchiver will be able to read and update files that were encrypted with any of these standards.