Questions about password protecting a folder as a .zip

[kat.hayes]

I have read a few pages online, though I am still confused as to how to password protect a .zip in Terminal. I have a folder on my desktop that I need to make into a .zip and add a password to. I bring up Terminal and I go to the desktop using cd /Volumes/desktop

I am now not clear on the commands that come next. The folder on my desktop that I want to zip and password protect is called Taxes 2022

1.) The command I was trying to use in Terminal was
zip -er TAXES 2022.zip TAXES 2022

What do I need to change with the command to make it work?

Thanks!

 

[Apple_Robert]

You don't need to use terminal.

1) Open Disk Utility > File > New > Image from Folder > Pick your folder > Under the Encryption option, pick 128 and type in the password you want.

 

[Bigwaff]

zip -er "TAXES 2022.zip" "TAXES 2022"

You need quotes around the folder name because it contains a space.

 

[kat.hayes]

You don't need to use terminal.

1) Highlight the folder, right click and tap on Compress. That will create a zp file of the folder.
2) Open Disk Utility > File > New > Image from Folder > Pick your folder > Under the Encryption option, pick 128 and type in the password you want.

After compressing the folder into a .zip it does not show up in the options in the Disk Utility window. It is greyed out.

 

[Apple_Robert]

After compressing the folder into a .zip it does not show up in the options in the Disk Utility window. It is greyed out.

I messed up on my instructions. I apologize for telling you wrong. With Disk Utility open, point to the uncompressed folder and follow as before. You will have a password protected folder with a DMG extension. When you want to open the folder, just double click and input the password to view contents.

 

[kat.hayes]

I messed up on my instructions. I apologize for telling you wrong. With Disk Utility open, point to the uncompressed folder and follow as before. You will have a password protected folder with a DMG extension. When you want to open the folder, just double click and input the password to view contents.

Any particular reason for choosing 128 instead of 256 for level of encryption? Thanks

 

[Apple_Robert]

Any particular reason for choosing 128 instead of 256 for level of encryption? Thanks

256 takes a lot longer to encrypt and is overkill, provided you use a good alphanumeric password.

 

[chrfr]

I have read a few pages online, though I am still confused as to how to password protect a .zip in Terminal. I have a folder on my desktop that I need to make into a .zip and add a password to. I bring up Terminal and I go to the desktop using cd /Volumes/desktop

I am now not clear on the commands that come next. The folder on my desktop that I want to zip and password protect is called Taxes 2022

1.) The command I was trying to use in Terminal was
zip -er TAXES 2022.zip TAXES 2022

What do I need to change with the command to make it work?

Thanks!

Note that password protecting zip files is not secure. The suggestion above to make an encrypted disk image is a good one but these are not compatible with Windows, in case that matters.

 

[kat.hayes]

Note that password protecting zip files is not secure. The suggestion above to make an encrypted disk image is a good one but these are not compatible with Windows, in case that matters.

ugh...I do need to share it with someone on a Windows computer.

1. Why is it not secure to password protect the zip file if I use a strong password?
2. How can I zip a folder, encrypt it, and make it usable on a Windows computer.

Thanks

 

[Arctic Moose]

How can I zip a folder, encrypt it, and make it usable on a Windows computer.

Use 7-zip:

Download

 

[kat.hayes]

Use 7-zip:

Download

I am not tech savvy enough to make sense of this. I downloaded a file zip file and I do not see a usable installer, just a Unix executable file.

Are there any other recommended programs out there for zipping?

Thanks

Edit: I just downloaded something from the App Store that let me add a password, though I am not positive if it will work on Windows. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/a-zippr-rar-zip-extractor/id1434280883?mt=12

 

[bogdanw]

Free:
Keka https://github.com/aonez/Keka
PeaZip https://github.com/peazip/PeaZip
Use 7Z with AES256-based encryption
https://peazip.github.io/encrypt-files.html
https://github.com/aonez/Keka/wiki/Compressing-with-Keka#password-protected-and-encrypted-files
On Windows, open with 7-Zip https://7-zip.org/

 

[Arctic Moose]

I am not tech savvy enough to make sense of this. I downloaded a file zip file and I do not see a usable installer, just a Unix executable file.

Nothing to install, there is documentation in the MANUAL folder. However, if you don't want to copy and paste to Terminal, use Keka as suggested by @bogdanw, just make sure to use 7zip encryption.

 

[penelope_bk]

Yeah, for stuff like this, I don’t even touch Terminal. It’s way easier to just use a file manager that has built-in support for password-protected ZIPs. Just select the folder, choose compress, set a password, and done. No need to mess with commands or worry about syntax errors. Plus, it’s usually more reliable when sharing with Windows users. Tested dozens of times.

 

[lastargo]

Yeah, for stuff like this, I don’t even touch Terminal. It’s way easier to just use a file manager that has built-in support for password-protected ZIPs. Just select the folder, choose compress, set a password, and done. No need to mess with commands or worry about syntax errors. Plus, it’s usually more reliable when sharing with Windows users. Tested dozens of times.

Finder is generally fine for me, but doesn't have that features, what file manager you mean?

 

[penelope_bk]

The one I use is Commander One. I just select the folder, choose compress, set a password, and that’s it. Works great if you’re sharing with Windows users too, never had issues with compatibility.