Best configuration for encryption without compression - sharing what I learned
Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2022 5:59 am
I did a few tests and I am sharing this in case it helps others. I ultimately decided that I did not need compression but I do want encryption. If you enable encryption, it will still compress using 7z format. I played around with a few options to see what the end result would look like.
Source:
One caveat, even using ZIP/none for compression, if the file is encrypted then Windows 10's built in ZIP utility cannot unzip/extract the encrypted file. You have to use 7zip.
Source:
- 12,374 files
- 1,204 folders
- 435,438,118 bytes
- mostly text files (code)
- no compression, ZIP-Compatible AES (256 bit) encryption = 64,892,252 bytes (85% reduction)
- zip with compression level = none, ZIP-Compatible AES (256 bit) encryption = 439,086,948 bytes (0.8% increase)
- zip with compression level = max, ZIP-Compatible AES (256 bit) encryption = 82,076,092 bytes (81% reduction)
- 7z with compression level = none, ZIP-Compatible AES (256 bit) encryption = 64,892,252 bytes (85% reduction)
- 7z with compression level = ultra, ZIP-Compatible AES (256 bit) encryption = 64,892,252 bytes (85% reduction)
One caveat, even using ZIP/none for compression, if the file is encrypted then Windows 10's built in ZIP utility cannot unzip/extract the encrypted file. You have to use 7zip.