Add The Encryption Option To The Shortcut Menu

Security of your files on an NTFS partition can be increased by using encryption. This way only you and any other users you give permission to can view your files. Normally you have to encrypt a folder or file from its properties dialog box. You can make this process just a little bit easier by adding the option to encrypt to the shortcut menu for a folder or file.

Of course, a word of caution: The following steps do require you to modify the registry, so proceed carefully and perform a backup first.

1. Click Start, click, and type regedit. Click OK.
2. Navigate to the following key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ Advanced.
3. Click the Edit menu, point to New, and select Dword value.
4. Type in EncryptionContextMenu and press Enter.
5. Double click the new DWORD value and configure the value as 1.
6. Close the registry editor.

You will now be able to encrypt or decrypt any of your folders and files using the shortcut menu.