[ENCRYPTION GUIDES]
Straight answers to the questions people actually ask about encrypted files.
These guides cover the practical side of encryption — identifying what encrypted a file, getting it open again, and choosing a method that fits what you are doing. Each one is written to answer the question rather than to sell you a tool, and links to the relevant tool only where it genuinely helps.
[ALL GUIDES]
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Open a .crypt file
Almost always a WhatsApp chat backup — and the key is not inside it.
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How to decrypt encrypted files
Work out what encrypted the file, then use the tool that matches. There is no universal decrypter.
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How to open an encrypted file
There is no "encrypted file opener" — the file has to be decrypted back into its original format first.
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How to encrypt a file
Four practical methods, and how to choose between them without over-thinking it.
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What is an encrypted file
A file whose contents have been scrambled so that only someone with the key can read them.
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How to encrypt a text file
Plain text is the least protected format there is — and usually the one holding the most sensitive things.
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Send a file securely by email
Encrypt the file, send it, and get the password to the recipient by a different route.
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Encrypt before uploading to the cloud
Your cloud provider encrypts your files — with keys it holds. Here is how to hold the key yourself.
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Files encrypted by ransomware
Act calmly and in this order — the first hour decides how much you get back.
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AES-256 vs ChaCha20
Two excellent ciphers, one practical difference: whether your processor has AES built in.
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Is online encryption safe?
It depends entirely on where the encryption happens. Here is how to check.