Continuing the first and second ones, this tutorial explains file archiving with password protection on Ubuntu operating system. By this you can create a compressed archive file that can only be opened by you. Even the file list cannot be seen unless the user know the password. This tutorial is based on Ubuntu version 20.04 LTS and is applicable to other versions. Happy working!
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Supporting Formats
- zip - the most popular format with password protection ability.
- 7zip - the best compressed format with password protection.
- rar - nonfree and proprietary format owned by winrar.
See first tutorial to know more archive file formats.
No Supporting Formats
tar, tar.gz, tar.xz - they do not support encryption.
1. Create Protected ZIP
- Run Archive Manager program.
- Create a new archive.
- Give it name.
- Select ZIP format.
- Click Other Options.
- Enter your desired password in the text box.
- OK.
- Add items into the archive.
- Close Archive Manager.
- Password protected archive ZIP file created.
- Test extract the archive and you should be asked for password.
(Picture 1.1 the making of encrypted zip archive)
2. Create Protected 7ZIP
- Run Archive Manager program.
- Create a new archive.
- Give it name.
- Select 7Z format.
- Click Other Options.
- Enter your desired password in the text box.
- Enable the option "Encrypt the file list too" to hide all files.
- OK.
- Add items into the archive.
- Close Archive Manager.
- Password protected
(Picture 2.1 the making of the Seven-zip encrypted archive)
Results
Here is the archive ZIP with password when to be extracted or its' file to be viewed. Recipient of this archive can still see file names, but cannot extract nor view them unless they know the password. Notice the files are still shown as list.
Here is the archive 7z with password and with file list encrypted. Notice the files are not shown at all. Recipient of this archive cannot see file names, and also cannot extract nor view them unless they know the password. This one is better for security.
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