What is the Encryption Folder how does it work?
The Seagate and Maxtor Manager have a feature that can Encrypt data for security. By creating an encryption folder on the external drive and using the software data can be moved into this hidden folder, encrypted, and saved to prevent un-wanted access to the data without a proper password.
To encrypt data.
- Open the software.
- Click "Security" from the tool menu at the top.
- Click " Encryption"
- Click "Open Encrypted Folder"
- Drag files into the encrypted folder shown.
The files will be encrypted on the drive at this time. Files will remain encrypted and any attempt to open the files directly from the drive will display garbled or unreadable data.
To decrypt data:
- Open the software.
- Click "Security" from the tool menu at the top.
- Click "Encryption".
- Click "Open Encrypted Folder"
- Drag files out of the encrypted folder shown to another location.
Files will now be decrypted and usable.
Note: The password protection feature of encryption is only required if the drive is taken to another computer than the original that set up the encryption folder. This is to prevent theft of the device so access of encrypted data cannot be viewed without the proper password, but does not prevent day to day use of the data on the original computer by prompting for a password for each access of the folder.