Tutorial 04: Data Encryption with LibreOffice 🔒

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Tutorial 04: Data Encryption with LibreOffice 🔒
Tutorial 04: Data Encryption with LibreOffice 🔒


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Dear readers,

If you've read the previous posts on this blog, then you'll know by now that LibreOffice is an application that I highly recommend for all office related tasks (especially if you're on a low budget but need a fully featured office suite).

It's a free and open source alternative to Microsoft Office + Office 365, and is compatible with Microsoft office file extensions (e.g. .doc, .docx, xls, xlsx, etc.).

LibreOffice also allows the end-user to encrypt their documents with a password layer of security for the sake of data protection.

As a targeted individual who is concerned about their cyber security ? This is an indispensable feature to have (especially seeing as we are hacked beyond belief). 

If you're dealing with sensitive documents, you need to make sure intruders do not have easy access to your personal information.

This tutorial will show you how to very easily encrypt documents created In LibreOffice.

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ℹ️ In order to complete this tutorial, you'll need the following:

✅ A computer (Windows 7+, Mac OS, Linux).
✅ Basic computing skills.
✅ An internet connection.
✅ LibreOffice Installed on your system. 

For this tutorial, I'll be using Windows 11. The tutorial also applies to Mac OS and Linux. 

Relevant download links:

- https://www.libreoffice.org/download/download-libreoffice

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ℹ️ If you haven't already done so, please follow the link above to download and install LibreOffice for your system.


Tutorial


- Once you've successfully downloaded and installed LibreOffice, go to your desktop and look for the LibreOffice icon. Double-click on it to launch the application:

Double-click the LibreOffice icon to launch the application.


Once you've launched the application, you'll be met with this screen. For this tutorial were going to be creating and encrypting a LibreOffice Writer Document (equivalent of Microsoft Word). So click on the 'Writer Document' label at the left side of the screen.
Once you've launched the application, you'll be met with this screen. For this tutorial were going to be creating and encrypting a LibreOffice Writer Document (equivalent of Microsoft Word). Bear in mind that the encryption works on any kind of LibreOffice document you create. So click on the 'Writer Document' label at the left side of the screen.


Once you've clicked the 'Writer Document' label, you should give it a few seconds to load the document editing screen. Once it has been successfully loaded, you can type in anything you wish. In this example, I've used the placeholder 'LOREM IPSUM' text. Once you're done creating your document, press the 'SAVE' icon in the toolbar at the top.
Once you've clicked the 'Writer Document' label, you should give it a few seconds to load the document editing screen. Once it has been successfully loaded, you can type in anything you wish. In this example, I've used the placeholder 'LOREM IPSUM' text. Once you're done creating your document, press the 'SAVE' icon in the toolbar at the top.


Clicking the 'SAVE' button will invoke the 'SAVE AS' dialog box. You can navigate to your desired location on your computer where you wish to save the document. Make sure the 'AUTOMATIC FILE NAME EXTENSION' and 'SAVE WITH PASSWORD' options are ticked. You can give the document any name you wish. Once you're done, press 'SAVE'.
Clicking the 'SAVE' button will invoke the 'SAVE AS' dialog box. You can navigate to your desired location on your computer where you wish to save the document. Make sure the 'AUTOMATIC FILE NAME EXTENSION' and 'SAVE WITH PASSWORD' boxes are ticked. Please do not change the 'SAVE AS TYPE' to anything else apart from the default option which is 'ODF TYPE DOCUMENT'. Encryption only works with this type of document. You can give the document any name you wish under 'FILE NAME'. Once you're done, press 'SAVE'.


After pressing 'SAVE', another dialog box will put for you to set a password. Enter your desired password and confirm it in the box below. If you wanted to add another layer of security, you can set a password that will make the document 'READ ONLY', which prevents anyone who accesses it from editing it. They would have to enter a password to read it. But we wont be doing that for this tutorial.
After pressing 'SAVE', another dialog box will put for you to set a password. Enter your desired password and confirm it in the box below. There will be a bar beneath the password you enter to tell you show strong it is. If you wanted to add another layer of security, you can set a password that will make the document 'READ ONLY', which will prevent anyone who accesses it from editing it. These options can be accessed by pressing the down arrow. They would have to enter a password to edit it. But we wont be doing that for this tutorial. Once you're satisfied ? Press 'OK'


Now you need to check if the document has been encrypted properly. Open your windows explorer and go to the location where you stored the file. 'RIGHT CLICK' on it, and then go to 'OPEN WITH' and then select 'LIBREOFFICE'. You should do this if you have other document editing applications on your system.
Now you need to check if the document has been encrypted properly. Open your windows explorer and go to the location where you stored the file. 'RIGHT CLICK' on it, and then go to 'OPEN WITH' and then select 'LIBREOFFICE'. You should do this if you have other document editing applications on your system. 


A blank screen will launch with a password prompt dialog box. Enter the password you set earlier on to access the document. Entering the wrong password will deny you access to the document.
A blank screen will launch with a password prompt dialog box. Enter the password you set earlier on to access the document. Entering the wrong password will deny you access to the document.

And that's it ! You've just successfully encrypted your document. 

In the next lesson, we'll be looking at other advanced options to add even more encryption to your ODF file in order to harden it and make it inaccessible in an event where the document password has compromised. 

What we've done today is for basic document encryption to prevent unauthorized users accessing the document. 

Note: If you have any questions or run into any issues, then please feel free to drop me a comment in the comments sections beneath this post. I'll do my best to assist you. 

Dear readers, I hope you've found this blog post useful to you in some way.

Thanks for your time today, stay tuned for the next post, and see you soon !


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Yours Sincerely,

ø§ LøneWølf 🐺

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