Encrypted Files

An encrypted file is a type of encoded file that has been encoded using an algorithm to restrict readability to authorized individuals. Encrypted file formats are used to store and transmit critical information, such as credit card information, passwords and other sensitive data.

The encryption algorithm, known as a cipher, uses an encryption key (private or public) to encrypt and decrypt information, making data indecipherable without the key. Encryption file formats specify the encryption schemes used.