How to Password Protect Your File Transfers

When sharing sensitive files, end-to-end encryption is a fantastic start. But what if you want to ensure that only a specific person can open the link, even if it's accidentally forwarded? Adding a password provides that crucial second layer of security.

Curato makes it incredibly easy to password-protect your encrypted file and text transfers. Here's a quick guide.

Why Password-Protect Your Files?

While Curato's end-to-end encryption scrambles your data so no one (not even us) can read it on the server, a password ensures that only the person who knows the password can initiate the decryption process. This protects your data if the share link is ever exposed publicly or sent to the wrong person.

Step-by-Step Guide to Password Protection

Let's walk through the process of sharing a file with password protection.

Step 1: Select Your File or Text

On the Curato homepage, either select a file to upload or navigate to the Text tab and enter your snippet.

Step 2: Open "Sharing Options"

Below the file selection or text area, click the Sharing Options button. This will expand a menu with several security settings.

Step 3: Enter Your Password

In the "Password" field, type the password you want to use. Choose something that is easy for you to share with your recipient but hard for others to guess.

Important: Password protection only works with encryption enabled. If you have disabled encryption, the password field will be disabled.

Step 4: Generate and Share the Link

Click the "Share" button. Curato will provide you with a secure link. Copy this link and send it to your recipient. You will also need to send them the password separately (e.g., through a different messaging app) for maximum security.

What the Receiver Experiences

When your recipient opens the link, they will not see the file immediately. Instead, they will be prompted to enter the password you created. Only after entering the correct password will they be able to access and download the file.

Security You Can Count On

By combining default end-to-end encryption with optional password protection, Curato gives you multiple layers of defense. Your data is encrypted with a key that only you have (in the URL), and access is further restricted by a password that only your recipient has.