Overview
Before your files can be downloaded, they have to be decrypted with your key. The method for decrypting your files and accessing your key depends on how you download your files, as well as your security settings. This article describes the different options for downloading and decrypting files.
Familiarize yourself with the Archive Encryption Key Security options before reading this article.
File decryption
When and where your backed up files are decrypted varies based on which download method you choose. Refer to the table below for details.
| State of files stored at backup destination | Method of file transmission | How are files transmitted? | Where are files decrypted? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CrashPlan app | Encrypted | Internet or direct connection 1 | Communication channel secured with 256-bit AES encryption | Your computer |
| CrashPlan console | Encrypted | Internet |
HTTPS 2 |
CrashPlan servers |
1 If you download your files from a local destination, like an external hard drive, then files are not transmitted over a network. If you download your files from a cloud destination, like the CrashPlan cloud, files are transmitted over the Internet.
2 Your CrashPlan administrator can configure your CrashPlan environment to use HTTPS, or HTTP (less secure protocol) if necessary.
If you download from the CrashPlan console, your files are decrypted on the servers. If you don't want your decrypted files stored on the servers, download your files from the CrashPlan app.