P.F.E. Help

(Touch a letter or scroll down for more topics)

Other Topics

• Quick Start
• Batch Processing

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• Settings
• Forgotten Password
• Format Specifications
• FAQ

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Desktop Versions Download:
 
 

File & Text Encryption for macOS

(file and text encrypter for macOS - pkg file)

 
 

File & Text Encryption for Windows

(file and text encrypter for Windows - msi file)

Quick Start

Encryption

• Set a password for the current session.
• Select a file or folder by tapping the respective file/folder icon.
• Tap the 'Encrypt' button located in the bottom-right corner.
• Choose the destination directory for the encrypted file.
• A new ".enc file" will be created.
(Note: You can choose to delete / wipe the original file(s) after the encryption process. This can also be automated by navigating to: Settings → Wipe Source After Encryption)

Decryption

• Set a password for the current session.
• Select a file or folder by tapping the respective file/folder icon.
• Tap the 'Decrypt' button located in the bottom-right corner.
• Choose the destination directory for the decrypted file/folder.
• The selected file will be decrypted.

Multiple File Selection

• The Multiple File Selection (batch processing) is a feature exclusive to the PRO version.
• This feature is present in Paranoia File Encryption PRO (not to be confused with Paranoia Text Encryption PRO). Alongside this, the PRO version also incorporates advanced encryption algorithms such as Threefish (1024 bit), SHACAL-2 (512 bit), and Paranoia C4 (2048 bit).
• You can choose between two modes: "All to One File" in which all selected items are encrypted together into a single file, or a classic mode where items are encrypted or decrypted individually.

Forgotten Password

• There is no "backdoor" method to decrypt any file without the correct password. If you forget your password, there's no way to retrieve it. ;-)

A - Select Media File

• Tap to open the image/video selector and choose files to encrypt.

B - Choose Root Working Directory

• Tap to select the root directory for the file browser. This sets the starting point for browsing and working within the directory structure.

C - Selected File/Folder

• Long-tap to select a folder.
• Short-tap to select a file.
• Alternatively, tap a file/folder icon.
• Multiple File Selection

Once a file or folder is selected, it can be:

• Encrypted or Decrypted (depending on the state of the selected file) using the 'Encrypt / Decrypt' button (H);
• Renamed, Opened, Deleted, Wiped, put back into albums, etc., by using the 'Menu' button (F)..
• Note: Long-tapping on a file will provide similar options to using the 'Menu' button on the selected file/folder.

D - Encrypted File

• Encrypted files can be identified by their .enc extensions, purple backgrounds, and "lock" icons.

E - Settings

• Enc. Algorithm: Choose an encryption algorithm (the decryption algorithm will be detected automatically). Options include: AES 256bit, RC6 256bit, Serpent 256bit, Blowfish 448bit, Twofish 256bit. The Pro version also offers Threefish 1024bit and SHACAL-2 512bit
• Compression: Enable or disable compression, or delegate the decision to the application.
• Wipe Source After Encryption: Automatically wipe (if possible, based on the current location) source files after encryption.
• Delete .enc After Decryption: Automatically delete the source file (the encrypted .enc file) after decryption.
• Lock Screen: Lock the application screen using the current session password when the app is minimized. A session password must be set for this feature!

F - More Button

• Tap for extended options for file management and other functionalities.

G - Set Session Password

• A password is not required to access the application, but is needed for the current encryption/decryption session. You can create an unlimited number of passwords for any file or purpose.

H - Encrypt/Decrypt Button

• Tap to encrypt or decrypt files or folders, depending on the selected item.

More ...

Wiping:

• Data is physically overwritten before deleting (cannot be undeleted).
• warning: Due to caches, reallocation mechanisms, and wear-leveling in modern systems and on hardware/driver levels itself, there is a disproportion between "reported file system state" (reported to the app) and "real/physical memory state". There is a possibility that sometimes on some devices (depended on system/flash memory driver) the wipe feature will not work on 100%. There is no way, how to be absolutely sure, since the app works always only with a "virtual" image of a physical media.
• Wiping is not available on encrypted volumes with the APFS file system, as it is essentially redundant and also ineffective due to the CoW mechanism of the system.

Icons:

	Folder
	File (more types: image, video, ...)
	Encrypted File
	Back to the Parent Folder

Frequently Asked Questions

Issue: My file(s) are still visible after encryption. Is the application not working, or am I doing something wrong?

P.F.E. works like an archiver, creating a new .enc file after encryption. The original file(s) can be deleted or wiped after the encryption process is completed. This can be done manually or set to be done automatically by navigating to: Settings → Wipe Source After Encryption

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Issue: I forgot my password. Can you help me?

No, there is no backdoor. It's the purpose of the application. All data are encrypted (mathematically altered) using the password. Without the password you can't reverse the process and "reconstruct" original data. We can't help you. Nobody can. The correct password is the only way.

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Issue: Why can't I use other application(s) that work with the same ciphers? For example AES to decrypt texts?

It isn't only about an encryption algorithm, there are many other pieces: encryption mode (CBC, CFB, PCBC, OFB, CRT, CWC, EAX, ...), password processing (KDF - Key Derivation Function), compression etc... Detailed format specifications can be found here.

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Issue: Why doesn't the application use fingerprints to access encrypted files?

All data is fully encrypted (mathematically altered), and exact encryption key matching is required to perform decryption. Without a 100% correct key, the process can't be reversed to "reconstruct" the original data. Fingerprints are typically used for authentication - the originals are stored and compared during the authentication process, but the data is only hidden, not encrypted. Reliable encryption using fingerprints, including generating a secure encryption key from them, has not been accomplished to date - there have been only a few unreliable experiments. Importantly, fingerprints are not secret and cannot be changed. If someone obtains a copy of your fingerprints (which is quite easy to do, as you leave your 'password' on everything you touch), all of your data, past and present, would be accessible to them. P.F.E. will NEVER use biometric data, either directly or indirectly, for ENCRYPTION purposes.

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Issue: I can't decrypt my data; the application says "Invalid password or corrupted data." I'm 100% sure my password is correct. What should I do?

A) Very high probability: Your password is really incorrect. When setting or entering your password, try to avoid typing errors and remember the correct password for the particular piece of data. It's surprisingly easy to make a mistake when typing on a software keyboard. If you're already stuck in an "incorrect password" scenario, check for missing, swapped, or doubled letters, or letters replaced by or added from neighboring keys. Consider all combinations of keys around your intended key—this process can be tedious, but it's possible to correct a single character error. Many "100% sure users" have also recalled the correct password eventually (if they tried of course — those who think they never make mistakes prefer to sacrifice their data to this believe).

B) Very low probability: A hardware failure could be at fault. Our application verifies the broader header of .enc files after encryption to avoid calculation or memory errors. Most hardware errors, which regrettably are unavoidable, result from storage failures. On the internal storage of iOS devices, this scenario is highly unlikely. However, SD card readers and other peripherals connected via the Lightning or USB port may be more susceptible to errors. The reliability of these devices can vary significantly, but in general, external storage can be considered quite unreliable.

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Issue: What is the purpose of the activation code provided by the PRO version? Which applications can it be used with?

You can use the provided code to activate the desktop versions of S.S.E. File Encryptor, Paranoia Text Encryption, and Paranoia File & Text Encryption. The license is valid for a lifetime. It allows you to activate an unlimited number of desktop versions (learn more) across all the devices you own.