Creating a Self-Extracting Encrypted Archive With BCArchive

Note for Mac Users: The technique outlined in this document requires the use of the encryption program BCArchive which is a Windows only program. Mac users will need to use an alternate method of sending encrypted archive files to non-UT College of Education people such as by using UT's WebSpace which is explained in another tutorial which you can view by clicking here.

 

The default encrypted archive file created by BCArchive requires a person to have the BCArchive program installed on their computer in order to decrypt the encrypted archive file. So if you are unsure if the person you are sending an encrypted archive file to has the BCArchive installed on their computer, you can send them a self-extracting encrypted archive. A self-extracting archive is essentially a mini-program that contains your encrypted archive file. When a person runs this mini-program on their computer, it will decrypt your encrypted archive file - provided the person knows the proper password to decrypt the files. This way the person does not need to have BCArchive installed on their computer to decrypt and view your encrypted archive file.

 

Create the Self-Extracting Encrypted Archive

1. Open your encrypted BCArchive file.

If you don't have one already then you'll need to create one that contains the sensitive files that you want to send to the other person. Click here for instructions on how to create an encrypted archive file with BCArchive.

 

IMPORTANT - When the person you send the encrypted archive file to tries to open it, they will be prompted to enter a password. This password is the same password that was placed on the original BCArchive file. If this password is something the other person should not know, then you should create a new BCArchive file with an acceptable password. For example, if you use the same BCArchive file password on all your files, then you should not tell the other person this password.

 

Open up your encrypted archive file by double-clicking on it. After double-clicking on it, the BCArchive program should start up.

 

2. Create the self-extracting encrypted archive file.

In the open BCArchive program window, click: Archive | Make Self-Extracting File

 

3. Choose whether or not you want to view the directory the self-extracting encrypted archive was saved to.

A window will pop up informing you that the self-extracting archive was created. The newly created file will be located in the same directory as the encrypted BCArchive file you chose in step 1. Click Yes in this window if you want to open a new window which will display all the files in the directory which the newly self-extracting encrypted archive file was saved to. Otherwise, click No to skip opening up this directory window.

 

4. Locate the new self-extracting encrypted archive file in the same directory as the regular archive file.

The new self-extracting encrypted archive file will have the same name as the regular archive file. You can distinguish the self-extracting archive file from the regular archive file by the lack of the sheet of paper in the background of its file icon. In the picture below, the lower file circled in red is the self-extracting archive file.

 

5. The self-extracting encrypted archive file is now ready to be given to the person you are wanting to share the sensitive files with. Send the self-extracting enrypted archive file to the other person by whatever means are available to you for sending files to people. This may be via email or a common network file share both of you can access. UT provides web accessible file space to all faculty, staff, and students. You can learn more about this web space at the UT WebSpace homepage.

IMPORTANT: Do not communicate the password you set on the self-extracting encrypted archive file in the same message or directory that you use to transfer the self-extracting encrypted archive file. This would negate the security of the password. You need to communicate the password to the other person using some other means such as by phone, fax, postal mail, or in-person.