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AviAvn's avatar
AviAvn
Copper Contributor
Jun 03, 2026

How to secure files on Windows 11?

Hello, sorry if this isn't the right subreddit to ask, I wasn't entirely sure where to post, and English is not my native language.

I recently got hit by a trojan malware, which forced me to reset a lot of things and completely update my knowledge on online security. It’s been about 10 years since I last tried to secure a file with a password.

I have sensitive work documents on my computer and want to know what is the standard, secure way to protect files in 2026 ? Is it still just the basic Windows 11 password ?

For context, all my files are synced with OneDrive. Since the attack, I have changed all my passwords, enabled 2FA everywhere possible, and I'm actively monitoring my active sessions for any unusual activity.

Edit: also I use and edit these files everyday so it needs to still be relatively easy to access.

security

2 Replies

  • Noreen's avatar
    Noreen
    Iron Contributor
    Jun 04, 2026

    Continue using long, complex passwords for your Windows account and all online services.

  • Stranger_Hanyo's avatar
    Stranger_Hanyo
    Copper Contributor
    Jun 03, 2026

    Did you do a full clean reinstallation of Windows after the malware detection? If yes, you're good.

    If not, run a full Windows Defender offline scan and a Malwarebytes scan as well. Make sure Windows is up-to-date, and you're keeping a backup of your important files.

    To make your PC more secure, you can turn on disk encryption, but I won't recommend it as it can lead to trouble later if you forget your encryption key.