Windows 10 encrypted my files to filearmorencrypted file extension


  1. Posts : 2
    windows 10
       #1

    Windows 10 encrypted my files to filearmorencrypted file extension


    I have a usb key that gave me an error when I plugged it in. I got a Windows 10 pop up message asking if I wanted to repair the files and I clicked yes. After it was completed I was able to access my files on my usb, but some of the files were converted to a filearmorencrypted extension. Why did Windows decrypt some of the files and how do I go about decrypting them? Any help to fix this would be greatly appreciated.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 8,057
    windows 10
       #2

    Welcome to the forum. Is this your usb from another pc as you will need to login with the user who encrypted it How to Open Encrypted Files | Small Business - Chron.com
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 2
    windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    No, it’s my own USB. I’ve had it for years and it’s not password protected. The computer I plugged it in is also my own. Was it Windows 10 repairing the USB after I got the message that it wasn’t able to read it? How do I undo the encryption?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 1,116
    win 10 pro x64 os build 20H2
       #4

    That's quit odd a repair of a usb drive should not have encrypted any files at all, it is quit possible that them files are corrupted in some way , and windows could not repair them. upon searching the web i did find info on a older windows 98 up to windows 7 of a program called file armor a youtube video on it but i don't think its made anymore , you will have to search for it as i'm not posting youtube links here. i do wish you luck.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 161
    Windows 10
       #5

    Windows won't encrypt your files, not without your permission. It's very strange that that would happen if it is the case. To begin with if Windows suspected a removable drive ie a USB stick was corrupted this already highlights an issue you might to want to think about. Removable media very rarely becomes corrupted, especially on modern systems where removable media is no longer as volatile and prone to corruption like it used to be. Not that long ago you could take your USB stick out at the wrong moment and mess it up on older systems. You'd then have to plug it back in and pretty much start from scratch. Today these sorts of things are prevented most of the time. You can take a USB stick out and plug it back without you know what hitting the proverbial fan.

    You would have to really do something wrong to corrupt a drive like wipe it but then abruptly exit it. Copy files over but then the physical USB connection to the computer becomes broken momentarily, like when you accidentally knock it and it no longer aligns in the USB slot. Or when you install something on the drive that corrupts the data, or maybe install something on your computer that corrupts the data. All of these possibilities are pretty rare these days to prevent data corruption/loss. I mean, sure, the most easy way to potentially corrupt data might be to mess with the stick while it's in the slot and then interfere with it's physical connection to the computer. That might work.

    I would be asking myself how I myself may have corrupted the data in the first place. Did I install something which interferes with removable media? Has there been any instances where I've used it and not taken due care and diligence to remove it after any operations have completed, and not during? Where has my stick been? USB sticks are pretty much germ magnets but for computers. They are breeding grounds for all sorts of nasty stuff that will if given the chance mess both the stick up AND the computer. USB sticks are among the biggest targets for causing all sorts of trouble when it comes to computers and messing them up.

    Finally, I would be asking whether I have used anything that involves drive encryption. Some software does implement it but you'll find these are usually security software like an encryption program specifically designed to protect files on a drive. Other software would never encrypt your files without your consent because to encrypt files requires a password/passphrase being generated/known in the first place. The password is used as part of the encryption algorithm to then encrypt the contents against. This password is then used to decrypt the contents. Do you know the password? Have you ever set a password for ANY type of encryption? If you haven't and stuff is encrypted I'd be a little concerned. That means you've got software on your computer doing this itself without your permission. That's no different to moving someone into your house so you can share the bills and help pay the mortgage off and then coming back after work the next day and the locks being changed without your consent and you not being provided with the master key.

    What antivirus are you using? I see links to filearmor and what appears to be the parent software package Mobile Armor with Trend Micro. They acquired this software/company in 2010 and the description of this software includes removable media encryption tools. Do you use this USB stick at work? Do they use Trend Micro? Actually further reading suggests the US Government also use/have used this software for encryption as well. So it's pretty prominent and is used in lots of different examples. Therefore I probably wouldn't consider it malicious and it's likely happened when and if you've come into contact with software that implements it.

    I'd look around to see if you are using it, or software is using it. And then change the settings in the software to disable it or for you to at least be able to know the password/passphrase being used to encrypt stuff.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 1,116
    win 10 pro x64 os build 20H2
       #6

    there was a long time ago the video i found a shareware program called filearmor as well at at any rate i would suggest him to do some research and hit up a search engine
    Last edited by Tonyb; 01 Jun 2020 at 11:30.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 161
    Windows 10
       #7

    That's because filearmor is an individual executable program part of a security suite that comes with TrendMicro. I already established this in my first post. Not everything is available individually and freely from the internet. You can't just Google every executable and find it for download or find information on it. Certain programs are sometimes a part of a bigger package and simply come with the software package as a whole as is the case with TrendMicro. In this example it's an endpoint protection solution which is security software designed specifically for business/enterprise solutions.

    Here is the link to the product on TrendMicro official website:
    Endpoint Encryption | Trend Micro

    And here is a more specific feature list which includes in the list the encryption software itself:
    Enterprise & Gateway Suites | Trend Micro

    Recommending someone to wipe a stick without taking into consideration the personal value of the files on the drive is a bad suggestion. When you can simply retrace your steps and go through the software that encrypted the files you can thus decrypt them. It may be the case the OP came into contact with a computer ie at work or somewhere else where this security software was installed. Judging by the fact it's been 10 years since this software was acquired by TrendMicro it's hard to imagine you will still find this software available and fully serviced by the original company who developed it. The whole point of buying out the company and the software is also to buy the rights over the software, obviously. And so involves ensuring that the transition to this new company takes the software and puts it in their own name and it is now unavailable for any other purpose than buying it from the company who acquired the software.

    The software you found is likely unrelated and/or obsolete.
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:46.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums