FileInfo.Encrypt Method

Definition

Encrypts a file so that only the account used to encrypt the file can decrypt it.

public:
 void Encrypt();
[System.Runtime.Versioning.SupportedOSPlatform("windows")]
public void Encrypt ();
public void Encrypt ();
[System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComVisible(false)]
public void Encrypt ();
[<System.Runtime.Versioning.SupportedOSPlatform("windows")>]
member this.Encrypt : unit -> unit
member this.Encrypt : unit -> unit
[<System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComVisible(false)>]
member this.Encrypt : unit -> unit
Public Sub Encrypt ()
Attributes

Exceptions

An invalid drive was specified.

The file described by the current FileInfo object could not be found.

An I/O error occurred while opening the file.

The file system is not NTFS.

The current operating system is not Microsoft Windows NT or later.

The file described by the current FileInfo object is read-only.

-or-

This operation is not supported on the current platform.

-or-

The caller does not have the required permission.

Examples

The following code example uses the Encrypt method and the Decrypt method to encrypt a file and then decrypt it.

using namespace System;
using namespace System::IO;
using namespace System::Security::AccessControl;


    static void Addencryption(String^ fileName)
{
    // Create a new FileInfo object.
    FileInfo^ fInfo = gcnew FileInfo(fileName);
    if (!fInfo->Exists)
    {
        fInfo->Create();
    }
    // Add encryption.
    fInfo->Encrypt();
    
}


    static void Removeencryption(String^ fileName)
{
//    Create a new FileInfo object.
    FileInfo^ fInfo = gcnew FileInfo(fileName);
    if (!fInfo->Exists)
    {
        fInfo->Create();
    }
    // Remove encryption.
    fInfo->Decrypt();
}

int main()
{
    try
    {
        String^ fileName = "c:\\MyTest.txt";
        Console::WriteLine("Encrypt " + fileName);

        // Encrypt the file.
     
        Addencryption(fileName);
        Console::WriteLine("Decrypt " + fileName);

        // Decrypt the file.
        Removeencryption(fileName);
        Console::WriteLine("Done");
     }
     catch (IOException^ ex)
     {
        Console::WriteLine(ex->Message);
     }
}
//This code produces output similar to the following; 
//results may vary based on the computer/file structure/etc.:
//
//Encrypt c:\MyTest.txt
//Decrypt c:\MyTest.txt
//Done
using System;
using System.IO;
using System.Security.AccessControl;

namespace FileSystemExample
{
    class FileExample
    {
        public static void Main()
        {
            try
            {
                string FileName = @"c:\MyTest.txt";

                Console.WriteLine("Encrypt " + FileName);

                // Encrypt the file.
                AddEncryption(FileName);

                Console.WriteLine("Decrypt " + FileName);

                // Decrypt the file.
                RemoveEncryption(FileName);

                Console.WriteLine("Done");
            }
            catch (Exception e)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(e);
            }
        }

        public static void AddEncryption(string FileName)
        {
            // Create a new FileInfo object.
            FileInfo fInfo = new FileInfo(FileName);
            if (!fInfo.Exists)
            {
                //Create the file.
                fInfo.Create();
            }
            // Add encryption.
            fInfo.Encrypt();
        }

        public static void RemoveEncryption(string FileName)
        {
            // Create a new FileInfo object.
            FileInfo fInfo = new FileInfo(FileName);
            if (!fInfo.Exists)
            {
                //Create the file.
                fInfo.Create();
            }
            // Remove encryption.
            fInfo.Decrypt();
        }
    }
}

//This code produces output similar to the following;
//results may vary based on the computer/file structure/etc.:
//
//Encrypt c:\MyTest.txt
//Decrypt c:\MyTest.txt
//Done
Imports System.IO
Imports System.Security.AccessControl



Module FileExample

    Sub Main()
        Try
            Dim FileName As String = "c:\MyTest.txt"

            Console.WriteLine("Encrypt " + FileName)

            ' Encrypt the file.
            AddEncryption(FileName)

            Console.WriteLine("Decrypt " + FileName)

            ' Decrypt the file.
            RemoveEncryption(FileName)

            Console.WriteLine("Done")
        Catch e As Exception
            Console.WriteLine(e)
        End Try

    End Sub



    Sub AddEncryption(ByVal FileName As String)
        ' Create a new FileInfo object.
        Dim fInfo As New FileInfo(FileName)
        If fInfo.Exists = False Then
            fInfo.Create()
        End If
        ' Add encryption.
        fInfo.Encrypt()

    End Sub



    Sub RemoveEncryption(ByVal FileName As String)
        ' Create a new FileInfo object.
        Dim fInfo As New FileInfo(FileName)
        If fInfo.Exists = False Then
            fInfo.Create()
        End If
        ' Remove encryption.
        fInfo.Decrypt()

    End Sub
End Module
'This code produces output similar to the following; 
'results may vary based on the computer/file structure/etc.:
'
'Encrypt c:\MyTest.txt
'Decrypt c:\MyTest.txt
'Done

Remarks

The Encrypt method allows you to encrypt a file so that only the account used to call this method can decrypt it. Use the Decrypt method to decrypt a file encrypted by the Encrypt method.

Both the Encrypt method and the Decrypt method use the cryptographic service provider (CSP) installed on the computer and the file encryption keys of the process calling the method.

The current file system must be formatted as NTFS and the current operating system must be Microsoft Windows NT or later.

Applies to