Using both Axcrypt and AESCrypt, I've encrypted individual files and attempted to send those files as email attachments. However, just about every time the recipient attempts to open the encrypted file with the passcode, they get a Windows popup basically stating that 'Windows cannot open this file,' so they never even get a chance to enter the password. It then gives the option to either use the web to find an appropriate program -- of select the program from a list. So, how do you get around this? It seems like you should be able to send an encrypted file to someone so that they can simply open it with the password?
Mirmir said it. You get that message from Windows if the software is not installed. So they need to install Axcrypt and/or Winrar on their computer. I have used both. For some reason though, gmail will no longer allow me to attach a winrar file. I can upload one to Google Drive but I can't send it in an email. I send these files to myself to store in gmail folders. Like passwords, financial documents, and sometimes software in a folder with a subscription key and that sort of thing etc... But I can still send an axcrypt file or a small truecrypt file. To be honest, I get a little suspicious of Axcrypt sometimes. They seem to want to bundle a lot of stuff into their setup file. You have to be really careful because the way they go about it seems a little unclear as to how to decline it. Many years ago I did a scan after creating an Axcrypt file. The original unencrypted file was still on my hard drive. So for something really sensitive it may be a good idea to encrypt the file in a truecrypt container and then run Privazer to get rid of the file name. The latest version of Axcrypt left it running in my task bar. I wonder why? Why would it need to continue running there?
That's what I was afraid of. So, if there any other software out there that will do what I'm trying to accomplish?
Axcrypt lets you encrypt a file to a self extracting EXE. I don't believe the application has to be installed in order for that to work on the other computer...
Peazip can encrypt & password/keyfile protect self-extracting archives (one file or many, compressed or not) with ARC or 7z. Will extract on any Windows system - Peazip, ARC, 7z or anything else not needed. ARC can be AES256, Serpent256, Twofish256 or Blowfish448/64. 7z AES256 only.