SHH Guide: How to Encrypt Files on your Computer?

Someone asked me this lately.

How do I encrypt files on my computer so my "insert not-liked family member here" cannot open them?

This is quite easy. There are hundreds if not thousands of programs that encrypt/decrypt files. I and going to use a small program called Toucan.
I use it because it works perfectly from my USB ThumbDrive and I can have a copy of it on the Laptop AND on my ThumbDrive.

You can get Toucan - HERE -

Now, I created a new folder on my PC called
C:\test_folder
I put a new text file in it called, this is a test.txt
In the text file is the text "can you read this?"

Lets say I want to encrypt all the data in the folder C:\test_folder
I simply open Toucan and pick the third tab called SECURE

From here on the left I click on the C: (it them expands) and then I click on the test_folder. I now hit the + (PLUS SIGN) in the middle.
On the right side, you know see C:\test_folder popup listing it. You can encrypt more then one folder if you want.

Make sure on the bottom right FUNCTION is set to Encrypt.
Routine simply means which encryption method you want to use in its encryption. Use either for this purpose. The bottom right now has the Password and Re-enter Passwords blanks. Type in something ONLY YOU KNOW and does not have ANY personal info in it.

Then hit GO.

Toucan will have a popup that displays the progress, like this:

Starting...
Encrypted C:\test_folder\this is a test.txt
Finished...

Now click the OK button, closing the progress box.

Now goto the C:\test_folder and see if you can open the file.
You cant.

Now to unencrypt it, do the same process but select DECRYPT.

Bam, you know have a way of encypting files.