Admin Tips
- Windows Server 2008/2003/2000/XP/NT Administrator Knowledge Base
  - Windows XP
    - Registry Tips
      - Security
        Simplified EFS

Section(s): Security
Published on Jul 05, 2006.
Last Modified on Jul 05, 2006.
Last Modified by MitchTulloch.
Rated 4.5 out of 5 based on 4 votes.

How to encrypt files easily from Windows Explorer.

If you use EFS to encyrpt hard drive data to protect it and are tired of right-clicking on files, selecting Properties, clicking Advanced, and selecting Encrypt Contents To Secure Data just to encrypt the file, try this registry tweak, which adds an Encrypt option when you right-click on files in Windows Explorer:

1. Open regedit and navigate to HKLM \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ Advanced

2. Create a new DWORD value named EncryptionContextMenu and set it equal to 1

Note that once you encrypt a file, right-clicking on it in Windows Explorer gives you a Decrypt option.

Cheers, Mitch Tulloch, MVP

About MitchTulloch

Mitch Tulloch was lead author for the Windows Vista Resource Kit from Microsoft Press, which is the book for IT pros who want to deploy, maintain and support Windows Vista in mid- and large-sized network environments. Mitch was also the author of Introducing Windows Server 2008 and technical project lead for the Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 Resource Kit, both books also from Microsoft Press. For more information on these and other books by Mitch, see www.mtit.com .