The Beginner’s Guide to Encrypting Files and Folders in 2026

That’s exactly what happens when you have ‘god-level confidence’ while sending out unencrypted files.

2026 is in a blink away, and if you still haven’t learnt how to encrypt and secure your data, you’re in for a rough year ahead. Data privacy, security and sensitivity are the talk of the town, and with all the data breaches we have seen this year, we have learnt that file-level security is what everyone needs at the moment.

The bottom line is that the mistake was not even a mistake. The real mistake is the poor security protocol, lack of encryption implementation, and the dearth of seriousness when it comes to proper and effective cybersecurity practices.

If you believe 2026 offers second chances, you are mistaken. We need modern encryption tools for personal data, because let’s face it, cybercriminals are evolving, and so must we. We face Mr and Mrs Ransomware, their offspring, AI-automated attacks and RANSOMWARE 5.0.

Prompt Injection and AI poisoning will also join the party in 2026.

Cybercriminals are shifting from traditional ransomware tactics such as encrypting, stealing, deleting data, or threatening public release.

That is not all.

Prompt injection and AI poisoning don't mean injecting gallium into devices or AI hypnotising users with familiar voices. Instead, attackers use malicious prompts to manipulate enterprise AI chatbots or LLMs, bypass security, perform unauthorised actions, or leak sensitive data and trade secrets.

In a world where data travels faster than gossip, how you send information matters more than to whom you send it.

This is where encryption plays a crucial role. This goes above and beyond just being a technical jargon to basic common sense, and 2025 taught us all of this and more with painfully expensive and clear lessons.

Take a look at this:

1. Talking about a great, or rather obscene, amount of transfer of economic wealth in history, Cybersecurity Ventures expects that global cybercrime costs will go up by a solid 15% over the next two years, per year reaching a whopping $10.5 trillion USD globally this year. Sources also say it is estimated to rise up to $12 trillion USD annually by 2031.

2. A recent October 2025 survey by Harris Poll for Mastercard found that nearly 13,077 adults in 13 countries showed that younger people are more vulnerable to cyber threats and online fraud. The report notes many feel embarrassed to report such incidents, and 60% say fraud is so common it seems unavoidable.

3. On 2nd September 2025, Prosper Marketplace suffered a major data breach affecting nearly 17.6 million records. Sensitive data, including PII, SSNs, names, addresses, DOBs, government IDs, employment, browser info, income, and credit status were exposed. The breach stemmed from cloud misconfiguration and stolen credentials.

4. The travel and tourism sector was also not spared this year. The Qantas Airways data breach affected nearly 5.7 million unique customer records. Personal details, Frequent flyer numbers, gender and meal preferences were compromised. This was a third-party/supply chain compromise via an ‘island hopping’ attack.

5. The Yale New Haven Data Breach incident affected nearly 5.5 million patient records. This was by far one of the biggest healthcare data breaches this year. This was a Ransomware attack and unauthorised access, and one where no public or cybercrime-acclaimed ransomware group publicly claimed responsibility.

With these, we understand that encryption is good, but the right implementation of encryption is even more important in 2026.

So, leaving 2025’s encryption mistakes in the past, let's look at how to encrypt files securely in 2026!

Encryption has gone from ‘nice add-on’ to ‘MUST HAVE’.

It basically acts as your digital PPE suit from hackers, attackers, snoopers and other bad actors.

This year, having an ‘OOPs’ moment can be quite expensive. Data Breaches, Ransomware attacks, Phishing mails, Vishing, and more have been quite the flavour of the season this year in Cybersecurity.

A reactive measure or public statement will not solve the problem or mitigate the damage. You need a proactive, granular encryption tool with a plan to protect your files and folders.

And since you have already reached this far with this article, you might as well read this.

You need AxCrypt. Period.

Going into 2026 without AxCrypt is not a good idea. We are ranked among the best modern encryption tools for personal data. AxCrypt works on a cellular level and this means your files, folders and drives come with a personal bodyguard all time, every time.

In 2026, your data needs more than ‘good encryption’. It needs an encryption tool that comes with a plan.

We are talking about:

With AxCrypt by your side this 2026 and our tips on best encryption methods for beginners, you can rest assured that you are not reacting, you are preventing, protecting, securing and controlling your data and information.

Let’s now see…

Gone are the days when we could proudly say things like ‘BitLocker is all I need.' Or ‘We password-protect files, folders, and drives.

The truth is…

The container is protected, but not the contents, and that’s what we fixed. Here are three ways to encrypt your files:.

Here are 3 ways to encrypt a folder with AxCrypt:

Much like encrypting files, folder security comes with an added advantage.

When you secure or encrypt an entire folder, all the files, subfolders, and other nested folders are encrypted as well. This way, nothing gets left out, and everything is encrypted.

Each method provides a reliable way to ensure that your data remains confidential and accessible only to those who have the correct password or key. Understanding these options will help you choose the best encryption technique for your needs.

2026 is not the year for second chances and is nowhere close to being kind toward data. While you are ‘thinking’ of implementing encryption, hackers and attackers have already made their first moves. It’s time to up the ante and switch to an encryption tool that works on a granular level.

With this article on how to encrypt files and folders, you have now understood that attackers, hackers and malicious actors do wait for budget cycles or internal approvals. They see the gap, they see the carelessness and chance up on it when the time is right.

And with that, the 2025 season of unencrypted, unsafe data comes to an end!