How to protect your encryption key
Best practices to protect your Everabyte encryption key: offline backup, safe storage, no sharing by email and a second copy in another safe place.
Your encryption key is the only thing that can decrypt your files, and Everabyte never holds a copy. Protecting it well is therefore one of the simplest and most valuable security habits you can adopt. The practices below are general best practices — adapt them to your situation.
In short
Keep an offline backup of your key in a safe place, never store the only copy inside your encrypted storage and never share it by email or chat. Consider a second physical copy in a different secure location.
Keep an offline backup in a safe place
Store a copy of your key offline — for example printed or on removable media — in a place only you and people you trust can reach. An offline copy is not exposed to online attacks, which makes it a strong last line of defense.
Tip — After creating a backup of your key, verify that the copy is complete and readable before relying on it.
Never keep the only copy inside your storage
Never store the only copy of your key inside the encrypted storage itself. If you lose access to that storage — or to your account — the key disappears with it, and your files become undecryptable.
Never share the key by email or chat
Do not send your key by email, chat or any messaging service. These channels keep copies of what you send and are not designed for secrets. If someone legitimately needs access to your files, arrange it through the sharing features of the platform — not by handing over your key.
Consider a second physical copy
For extra resilience, consider a second physical copy of your key, kept in a different secure location. If one location becomes unreachable — fire, theft, loss — the other copy still exists. Keep both locations secure and separate.
Prepare for the unexpected
If it is appropriate for your situation, tell a trusted person how to access your key in an emergency. Choose someone reliable, explain what the key protects and make sure they know where the copy is kept. This is a personal decision, not an obligation.
Important — If your key is lost and no backup exists, your files cannot be decrypted or recovered — including by Everabyte. See Lost encryption key.
Common issues
Where should I keep my key backup?
In a safe place, offline — for example printed or on removable media — ideally with a second copy in a different secure location.
Can I email the key to myself as a backup?
No. Email and chat keep copies of what you send and are not designed for secrets. Use an offline copy instead.
What if my key backup is lost too?
Without your key, your files cannot be decrypted or recovered, including by Everabyte. See Lost encryption key.
Can Everabyte reissue my key?
No. Everabyte does not hold customer encryption keys, so it cannot retrieve or reissue one.
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