Scenario: Encrypting local files and local transfers (WS_FTP Professional)

You can use OpenPGP encryption to secure files that your store on a local disk, or to secure a transfer from a local folder to another local folder. In this case, the transfers occur on the same machine. Typical scenarios are:

• You have files on your laptop that you want to secure in place as a precaution. You can encrypt the files with your public key, and when you need access, decrypt with your private key.
• You regularly archive files on an external hard drive, so you want to encrypt the files when you copy them to the drive.

Encrypting files for storage:

1. You use WS_FTP Professional to generate or import a key.

   If you already have an OpenPGP key, you can select to use it for encryption. You can see the available keys in the Program Options > OpenPGP > Keys dialog.

   If you are the only one using the file, you do not need to send the public key to anyone else.

2. You select a file, right-click, then select WS_FTP> OpenPGP > Encrypt.

   The encrypted file is saved with a .pgp extension.

   For information about all the OpenPGP commands, see Encrypting and decrypting local files.

3. When you want to use the file, you select it, right-click, then select OpenPGP > Decrypt and Verify.

   Your private key is used to decrypt the file. The file must have been encrypted with the associated public key.

Encrypting files for local transfer:

1. Connect to the local site and select the destination folder.
2. Enable OpenPGP Mode with your key used for encryption.
3. Upload the file. The file is saved in the destination folder; the file will have a .pgp extension.
4. When you want to use the file, download it, then right-click the file and select OpenPGP > Decrypt and Verify.

Related Topics

Encrypting and decrypting local files

Scenario: Encrypting files for transfer to or from a remote site