How to Encrypt Hard Drive?

Why Hard Drive Should be Encrypted?？

If you want to protect the important files, you can try the physical method as well as the encryption tools. But, if a great number of files should be modified from time to time, file encryption is not suitable. When lots of files encrypted within the RAR, ZIP or the other storage formats, the processing time will be prolonged very much.

At this situation, we can encrypt the whole hard drive at the partition level. The encryption way features as the followings:

1. The encrypted data can be quickly read and saved, like that saved in the common hard drive.

2. The space of the encryption storage is as large as a hard disk.

Besides, we can encrypt a virtual hard drive. In this way, we can quickly read and save the encrypted data but also create a virtual disk whose size can be customized and whose property can be disguised. Renee SecureSilo is one the applications applied this technology.

How to Encrypt Hard Drive?

Given to hard drive encryption, we should consider if the approach is safe, confidential and convenient. We can download the encryption software or use BitLocker attached with Windows OS. Here are more details.

Renee SecureSilo

Renee SecureSilo is the professional encryption software used for encrypting files and protecting our privacy. Users can create a virtual disk to encrypt files. Besides, it can protect USB disk data, hide files, disguise documents and create password wallets.

Next, we will talk about how to use Renee SecureSilo to encrypt a hard drive.

1. Download and install Renee SecureSilo. Then, launch the software and click [Create Silo] to create a virtual disk.

2. Next, name for the virtual disk and set the storage position. Click [Next].

3. Set the password and click [Next].

4. Set the size of the virtual disk and click [Next].

5. Click [Finish] and begin to place files into the disk.

6. Check the disk status in the main interface. Click [Close Silo] to close the virtual disk.

7. Next time, right click at the disk and enter the password to open the disk.

Tips:

Renee SecureSilo is designed with the floating window where you can check the status of the virtual disk. Like the below screenshot, click the green icon [+] and then type the password to open the virtual disk. Besides, click the orange icon to exit the program immediately.

2. Secret Disk

Secret Disk can hide the hard disks and protect the data security.

1. Download and install Secret Disk. Set a password after registration.

2. The created virtual disk will be like the below screenshot.

3. Place the files in the virtual disk and finally exit the program.

Limit: The registration process is complicated and it can only hide files.

3. BitLocker

Windows BitLocker is a built-in function in Windows after Vista for data protection. It can encrypt the whole hard drive to protect the inside data.

1. Search [Control Panel] on the desktop.

2. Click [System and Security].

3. Click [BitLocker Drive Encryption].

4. Click [Turn BitLocker on] > check [Use a password to unlock the drive]. Then, set a password and click [Next] to continue.

5. Back up your recovery key and finally click [Start encrypting] to encrypt the target hard drive.

Summary

In conclusion, although BitLocker is convenient, it is not equipped in Windows Home. Secret Disk cannot encrypt individual files. However, Renee SecureSilo can create the virtual disk, protect USB flash drives, hide files, disguise folders and manage your passwords. Compared with the former pieces of software, Renee SecureSilo is better for hard drive encryption.