Question secure files by zip

[brannsiu]

Hi. I have some files that I'd like to secure them by zip clients e.g. winzip, 7-zip.
However, I also know that it often takes a long time to process a file for probably a few hundreds of megabytes.
Is there any faster method or setting that you'll recommend?
I don't need very perfect secure because the file shouldn't be that important but I just want to do insurance.

 

[Aeacus]

Depends on the archive compression level. The higher the compression - the longer it takes to archive stuff.

Adding password doesn't take any additional time. If you want to make it fast, don't use any compression.

 

[brannsiu]

Depends on the archive compression level. The higher the compression - the longer it takes to archive stuff.

Adding password doesn't take any additional time. If you want to make it fast, don't use any compression.

I don't need compression. But I need passwords. In that case, do I still have to turn the files into zip type format?

 

[Aeacus]

In that case, do I still have to turn the files into zip type format?

Well, if you create password protected archive, then yes, a new file (archive) is created, that can end with *.zip, *.rar, *.7z which includes all the protected files.

I don't need compression. But I need passwords.

Encryption is another option. E.g BitLocker.

 

[hotaru.hino]

You can typically use a file archive tool that supports encryption to only encrypt the files but not compress them by setting the compression level to 0.

7-Zip does this, if you need an app.

 

[brannsiu]

Well, if you create password protected archive, then yes, a new file (archive) is created, that can end with *.zip, *.rar, *.7z which includes all the protected files.


Encryption is another option. E.g BitLocker.

Is BitLocker better than WinZip?

 

[USAFRet]

Is BitLocker better than WinZip?

A WinZip password is trivially bypassed.

BitLocker or VeraCrypt, not so much.

 

[hotaru.hino]

Is BitLocker better than WinZip?

If all you're after is encrypting some files, BitLocker is not the tool for the job here. BitLocker encrypts the entire drive. Also BitLocker requires Pro, Enterprise, or Education versions of Windows.

As mentioned, WinZip's encryption is broken, but you can use something like 7-Zip to encrypt via AES-256.

 

[kanewolf]

If all you're after is encrypting some files, BitLocker is not the tool for the job here. BitLocker encrypts the entire drive. Also BitLocker requires Pro, Enterprise, or Education versions of Windows.

As mentioned, WinZip's encryption is broken, but you can use something like 7-Zip to encrypt via AES-256.

If you use 7-zip there are specific options which will do multi-threaded compression. You have to use a 7z file extension and LZMA2 compression -- https://7-zip.org/7z.html

 

[Aeacus]

I'd suggest using 7-zip. Sure, you'll get archive ending with *.7z but with this, you'll get password protection to those select files you choose, you can even use compression to get archive size smaller and compared to e.g BitLocker, you don't have to encrypt the entire drive.