Tutorial 06: Data Encryption with EncryptPad 🔒📚

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Tutorial 6: Data Encryption with EncryptPad 🔒📚
Tutorial 6: Data Encryption with EncryptPad 🔒📚


What is EncryptPad

EncryptPad is another one of my favorite desktop applications that I use on a daily basis.

To put it simply, it is a multi-platform text editing application with very strong data encryption features, which is something that should be of interest to those who are concerned about data privacy (especially targeted individuals).

According to the official website: EncryptPad is an application for viewing and editing symmetrically encrypted text. Using a simple and convenient graphical and command line interface, EncryptPad provides a tool for encrypting and decrypting binary files on disk while offering effective measures for protecting information, and it uses the most widely chosen quality file format OpenPGP RFC 4880. Unlike other OpenPGP software which main purpose is asymmetric encryption, the primary focus of EncryptPad is symmetric encryption.

In today's tutorial, I'll be taking you through how to install and encrypt your data with EncryptPad.

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

✅ A computer (Windows 7+).
✅ Basic computing skills.
✅ An internet connection.

ℹ️ For this tutorial, I'll be using Windows 11. The tutorial also applies to older windows operating systems as well as other operating systems. 

ℹ️ Relevant download links:

- https://github.com/evpo/EncryptPad/releases/tag/v0.5.0.4

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Head over to the GitHub link above this image, scroll down to the bottom of the page, and then click on the file that the yellow arrow is pointing to. This is for Windows 7+ users. This will download the .zip file.
Head over to the GitHub link above this image, scroll down to the bottom of the page, and then click on the file that the yellow arrow is pointing to. This is for Windows 7+ users. This will download the .zip file. 


Once the file has finished downloading, head over to where the file was saved (usually in your 'DOWNLOADS' folder), RIGHT-CLICK on the file to bring up the context menu, and then click on 'EXTRACT ALL' to UNZIP the file.  


A dialog box will pop-up, and you just need to click extract.


Once the .ZIP file has finished extracting, the dialog box will automatically close. Go back to the same folder where you downloaded the .ZIP file to, and you'll see another folder right beside it. Double-click to enter this folder.
Once the .ZIP file has finished extracting, the dialog box will automatically close. Go back to the same folder where you downloaded the .ZIP file to, and you'll see another folder right beside it. Double-click to enter this folder. 


When you open that folder, you'll see a list of files. Because EncryptPad is a portable application, you don't need to install it on your computer. It runs on the go from the source folder. So double-click on the file with the padlock sign on it to launch the application.
When you open that folder, you'll see a list of files. Because EncryptPad is a portable application, you don't need to install it on your computer. It runs on the go from the source folder. So double-click on the file with the padlock sign on it to launch the application.


Microsoft Windows SmartScreen will pop up. Just slick on 'MORE INFO' and then click on 'RUN ANYWAY'
Microsoft Windows SmartScreen will pop up. Just slick on 'MORE INFO' and then click on 'RUN ANYWAY'


The EncryptPad user interface will load up: You can type whatever you want in the white space. Once you've done that, press the 'GENERATE ENCYPTION KEY' icon where the red arrow is pointing.
The EncryptPad user interface will load up: You can type whatever you want in the white space. Once you've done that, press the 'GENERATE ENCYPTION KEY' icon where the red arrow is pointing. 


When you do this (1) A dialog box will pop up titled encrypted key. Click on the 'BROWSE' button. (2) This will open up the Windows file explorer dialog box. Navigate to a location on your computer where you wish to save the new key file, type in a desired name under the 'FILE NAME' field and press save.
When you do this (1) A dialog box will pop up titled encrypted key. Click on the 'BROWSE' button. (2) This will open up the Windows file explorer dialog box. Navigate to a location on your computer where you wish to save the new key file, type in a desired name under the 'FILE NAME' field and press 'SAVE'.


You will now be taken to the previous dialog box where you can see the field with the path now is now filled. Press OK.
You will now be taken to the previous dialog box where you can see the field with the path now is now filled. Press OK.


Another dialog box will pop up asking you to enter a passphrase and confirm it. This is the passphrase for the encryption key. Do this and press ok.
Another dialog box will pop up asking you to enter a passphrase and confirm it. This is the passphrase for the encryption key. Do this and press OK.


Another dialog box will pop up asking you if you wish to use the generated security key for the file you're editing. Press 'YES'.
Another dialog box will pop up asking you if you wish to use the generated security key for the file you're editing. Press 'YES'.


Once you've set the passphrase for the security key, you now need to set a passphrase for the document itself. Yes, your document will have two different passwords. So click on the padlock sign to do this.
Once you've set the passphrase for the security key, you now need to set a passphrase for the document itself. Yes, your document will have two different passwords. So click on the padlock sign to do this. 



A dialog box will pop up for you to set a passphrase for the document. Do this and press OK. After doing this, press CTRL + SAVE to save the document in a particular place on your hard drive. Then close the application.
A dialog box will pop up for you to set a passphrase for the document. Do this and press OK. After doing this, press CTRL + SAVE to save the document in a particular place on your hard drive. Then close the application.


Now go back to the application folder where you launched EncryptPad and launch it again. When the application launches, click on --- FILE and then look down the menu to see your most recent documents. You will see the most recent document on the list. Click on it
Now go back to the application folder where you launched EncryptPad and launch it again. When the application launches, click on --- FILE and then look down the menu to see your most recent documents. You will see the most recent document on the list. Click on it


You will be prompted for a password. Enter the document password here, not the password for the key.
You will be prompted for a password. Enter the document password here, not the password for the key.


(1) A dialog box will appear for you to select the security key you created earlier: Press BROWSE. (2) Using the Windows explorer dialog box, navigate to where you saved the key, select it, and then press open. (3) On the previous dialog box, press ok.
(1) A dialog box will appear for you to select the security key you created earlier: Press BROWSE. (2) Using the Windows explorer dialog box, navigate to where you saved the key, select it, and then press open. (3) On the previous dialog box, press ok.

Another password dialog box will pop up. This is where you enter the passphrase for the security key that you just selected. Press OK once you're done.
Another password dialog box will pop up. This is where you enter the passphrase for the security key that you just selected. Press OK once you're done. 




If you've entered the credentials correctly, the file will now be decrypted, and you can now view the contents of the file. 

Congratulations for completing this tutorial. You now know how to encrypt and decrypt your text files using EncryptPad and the built in security key generation feature.

In the next lesson on EncryptPad, we'll look at the other features the application has.

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 !


ℹ️ Please bookmark, comment, like, and subscribe for the latest updates.


Yours Sincerely,

ø§ LøneWølf 🐺

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