Windows XP Professional Edition allows you to encrypt files so that no one but you can see the contents of the file. This feature is a great boon to people that travel with their computers and keep sensitive information on them. In fact, it's helpful to anyone that wants to make sure that no one else can see the encrypted files. Not even hackers who use back doors can view the contents of an encrypted file. However, someone can delete an encrypted file even though he can't see it! To encrypt a file, do this:

1. Open the Windows Explorer and find the file you want to protect with encryption.
2. Right click on the file and click the Properties command.
3. On the General tab in the Properties dialog box, click the Advanced button.
4. In the Advanced Attributes dialog box, place a checkmark in the Encrypt contents to secure data checkbox. Click OK. Click Apply.
5. The Encryption Warning dialog box may appear. You have the choice to Encrypt the file and the parent folder or Encrypt the file only. Make the choice that works for you and click OK.
6. The file is now encrypted. You don't have to enter a password to access the file. All you need to do it log onto the computer with your username and password.

Note that a certificate is required to decrypt the file. If the certificate is lost, you will not be able to access the file if a Recovery Agent certificate is not available. While it's unlikely that you will lose these certificates, you should back them up just to be safe. How to back-up these certificates? Mouse click on back-up