How encryption works

The FileSender application has two main parts:

• The script that runs in your browser. This is responsible for setting off file uploads and downloads, encryption, and password generation.

• The server application. This stores your files and sends invitations to people you want to share them with.

This allows FileSender to separate out any encryption-related activities from file storage. This has a few benefits:

• The server doesn’t see exactly what the browser-based script does to encrypt your files. Hacking attacks on the server are pointless; if someone gained access to the FileSender server, they might be able to access your encrypted files – but they’d have no data available on how to decrypt them, because the FileSender server doesn’t know how.

• If the files are intercepted in transit – for example, if your Wi-Fi network is compromised – then they’re already encrypted while they’re moving. This means that any interceptors can’t decrypt your files.

• Separating the file encryption and decryption functions from storage helps to keep your files safer.

How it works

You can send one or more encrypted files in FileSender.

Upload:

• Add files to FileSender in your browser window.

• Specify an encryption password.

• FileSender encrypts the files before it reaches the server.

• Your browser uploads the encrypted files to the FileSender server.

Password communication:

• Manually send the encryption password to the person who needs to download the files.

Download:

• Visit the unique file link provided by FileSender or the person who uploaded the files.

• Enter the encryption password.

• Your browser downloads the encrypted files.

• FileSender decrypts the files in your browser and checks them.

• Your browser saves the decrypted files to your device.

Create a password

FileSender can generate a password for you. Remember to copy the password to a safe location.

Alternatively, use a dedicated password manager with a password generation feature. Many password managers will allow you to:

• Automatically save your password on a secure server.

• Share specific passwords with other people, without ever sending the password in clear text.

Performance impacts

Encryption can affect your processing, upload, and download speeds.

FileSender encrypts and decrypts files in your web browser, so batches of files larger than 4 GB may not transfer. If you need to send more than 4 GB of encrypted files, we recommend sending them in multiple batches.

For more information on how to encrypt the files go to How to encrypt your files