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While encrypted, the file is no longer readable through normal means. When a file has been encrypted, an encoding algorithm has been applied to it which modifies the data until a decryption key has been used. If you’ve found yourself in a situation where you need to recover lost files from an encrypted/password-locked USB drive, the instructions provided in this article are just what you need to get them back regardless of if you’re using Windows or macOS. Why? Because files stored on an encrypted (password-protected) USB drive can’t be accessed by anyone unless the USB drive is decrypted and unlocked first. Data encryption is among the most effective techniques for protecting confidential files, but it can become a double-edged sword when recovering lost data.
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