Password vs encryption key: what each protects
Your password protects access to your account; your encryption key protects the content of your files. One can be reset, the other cannot.
These two secrets play very different roles, and confusing them can lead to painful mistakes. This article draws the line clearly: what each one protects, and what can be done when one is lost.
In short
Your password protects access to your account. Your encryption key protects the content of your files. A password can be reset or changed; if your encryption key is lost, Everabyte cannot recover it — and cannot decrypt your files.
What your password protects
Your password protects access to your account. It is what authenticates you to the service: signing in, managing settings, using the platform. If your password is compromised, it is control of your account that is at stake — which is why changing it quickly matters.
What your encryption key protects
Your encryption key protects the content of your files. Files are encrypted on your device before they reach our infrastructure, and the key is what turns ciphertext back into readable files. Everabyte does not hold customer encryption keys.
What can be reset — and what cannot
Your password can be reset or changed. Your encryption key cannot be recovered by Everabyte if it is lost: there is no reset, no master key and no back door. If your key is lost and it is the only key able to decrypt your files, the content cannot be decrypted — by you or by us.
Important — Do not confuse the two. A lost password threatens access to your account; a lost encryption key can mean your files cannot be decrypted again. See Lost encryption key.
Why the distinction matters in practice
Because the two secrets protect different things, they call for different habits. Treat your password as the front door of your account, and your encryption key as the only way into your files. Protect both — and remember that only one of them can be replaced.
Common issues
Can I use my password to decrypt my files?
No. The password protects access to your account; the encryption key protects file content. They are separate secrets.
What happens if I lose my password?
Your password protects access to your account and can be reset. If you cannot sign in, see I cannot sign in.
What happens if I lose my encryption key?
Without your key, your files cannot be decrypted or recovered, including by Everabyte. There is no master key and no back door. See Lost encryption key.
Can Everabyte reissue my encryption key?
No. Everabyte does not hold customer encryption keys, so it cannot retrieve or reissue one. A backup you control is the only safety net for your key.
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