The Hidden Risks of Unencrypted Files – and How Simple Encryption Fixes Them

One of the most common myths about encryption is that it is expensive, it is complicated, and that it is one to slow down your database's performance, but in reality, modern systems easily handle encrypted data efficiently with minimal latency.

Relying on strong passwords in today’s time and age is not a silver bullet solution. And they do not protect you from brute-force attacks. The real danger is in sharing unencrypted files. The risks are equal for both big and small businesses.

Let’s say you made the smart move and downloaded the AxCrypt encryption tool and encrypted your files…the maximum one can do is break into your laptop. And as for your sensitive files, they can dream and they try, but they can never break through the encryption and access your files.

And this is exactly why encryption is important.

In a data-driven world, where information and data are a prized possession and extend beyond being a corporate asset, it is the backbone of businesses, operations, and customer trustworthiness.

While proper data storage is often neglected and undermined, it's only when there is a serious data breach that people take encryption seriously.

In this blog, we are going to explain to you the hidden risks of not encrypting your files and how simple encryption solutions go a long way.

We will also be touching on points like why it is imperative to incorporate advanced encryption software like that of AxCrypt.

Every day, as you read this blog, there are hackers around the world constantly attempting to intercept data packets moving around on the digital highways of the internet. While most of the data makes no sense, thanks to encryption, the rest? Open invitations for data breaches.

Many businesses around the world, even today, think that a simple firewall or an anti-virus is enough. But this very mindset is what hackers benefit from.

Unlike large corporations, businesses, and enterprises, smaller businesses will never be able to recover from ransomware and data theft. It takes a single breach to expose critical customer data and employee records, to financial records, and proprietary information.

With encryption, all that stolen data is nothing but useless information for hackers.

In a recent article by TechRepublic, hackers have taken cyberattacks to another level.

Ransomware is now a business model – an organised franchise where attackers are creating and selling tools or packages to other attackers to streamline malware and ransom campaigns.

Here are some statistics gathered from various reports, for a better insight:

And what does this mean for businesses around the world? The need for better cybersecurity measures and reliable encryption software, ones as that of AxCrypt.

With AxCrypt, file security is easy. AxCrypt is designed for modern professionals and businesses that value simplicity and strength.

What sets AxCrypt apart from the rest is the intuitive interface, seamless user experience and the fact that you can secure your sensitive files and data in just a few clicks, be it on your phone or on your personal system.

Here are some to name a few:

1. Unencrypted data – An open invitation for Malicious actors:

Cyber attacks are mostly targeted towards the vulnerable sections of the business, typically the weak digital security, such as unencrypted files, weak passwords, and many others. More than brute-force attacks, hackers tend to bypass the network defences and gain complete access to sensitive information stored in plain text.

2. Compliance regulations and laws are getting tighter by the day:

If you are looking for shortcuts to face legal and financial consequences, then continue storing unencrypted data in plain sight. Regulations like General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) require organisations to have proper standards of security and are legally required to implement digital security.

Failing to meet such standards in securing sensitive data will not just land you in compliance issues but also result in massive fines, litigation and even criminal penalties.

3. Internal threats are just as malicious as external threats:

Most times, the breach happens from within. If someone in your organisation has a certain vested interest or an ulterior motive, then unencrypted files or data are just as good as a sitting duck.

Files that are unencrypted on shared drives, email attachments carrying sensitive information, and unencrypted and unsecured backups make it far too easy for hackers to access.

4. Protection of data during movement or while backing up:

Let’s say you finally set up automatic backups – AMAZING!

But! Here’s where the plot thickens. You didn’t encrypt your backups.

So now you have successfully created two back-ups – One for the hacker, one for the claim, and one for the little hacker playing the same game.

Now, as companies are moving to hybrid or cloud-based infrastructure, data is constantly travelling between servers, applications, backup systems, and users. If data is not encrypted, it becomes an open bait for interception through various loose ends in its journey.

5. Data encryption and security as a builder of trust and integrity.

Right now, as you read this blog, data security is a top concern for everyone, and encryption is crucial not just for data protection but to preserve trust and reputation.

Customers, clients and people in general greatly value transparency and data protection. And this is exactly why encryption is important. One single breach exposing important information can damage the image of the organisation, damaging trust and reputation.

According to a report by Up Guard, in India, in 2018, nearly 1.1 billion people were impacted by a serious data breach. How? Through their Aadhar information.

The breach exposed access to private information like photographs, retina scans, thumbprints, and other identifying details of nearly every Indian citizen in the country. Note that this is a number, much like a social security number in America, and is issued by the UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India). on behalf of the Government of India.

What this goes to say is that security, even on a national level, can be compromised if there are loose ends.

Cyber attacks are always targeting the weakest endpoints, and the good news is, with a tool like AxCrypt on your side, you can rest assured you can block those gaps in a matter of clicks, be it on your phone on your laptop, or your desktop.

1. Simple + Quick Set-up = Big Impact

The first thing you need to do is to download the AxCrypt app onto your system and register via email. Then set up a strong password, and if you want more assistance, you can also check out our password generator. Optionally, you can enable multi-factor authentication. Because this is such an easy-to-use app, from students, small organisations, to large corporations, anyone can easily adopt encryption without any complication.

Now that the app is successfully downloaded onto your desired system, the way we encrypt files is different.

And in just these simple ways, you can secure your unencrypted files and prevent them from falling into the wrong hands.

But as a business owner, you will have to take it a notch higher when it comes to security and data storage.

Opting for a free plan is not going to secure you. You must opt for a professional paid membership to reap the benefits of encryption with strong security.

With the AxCrypt Business plan that is built to meet industry demands and designed for teams, here are a few features that you can access, which aren’t present in the Free or Premium plan. After all, we are ranked as the best in the world when it comes to the best encryption software for small businesses.

Here are some of the key striking features that make AxCrypt Business a cut above the rest:

In a time and age where everything in the world is hyper-connected and information travels at the speed of light, its unencrypted files are a ticking time bomb for organisations, be it big or small. They not only pose a huge risk to the company’s loss of data but also to the company’s reputation and credibility.

Be it a small business or a large one, a harmless file or a sensitive one…Let’s face it, hackers don’t discriminate; they automate. This is especially why encryption is not an option but a need of the hour.

With AxCrypt’s 256-bit encryption, a hacker can try all they want. It would take merely a few 6,400,000,000,000,000 years to crack it, and they can have all the data they want.