Zorin OS Ultimate: Why You Should Use 7-Zip to Encrypt Your Files with AES-256
Zorin OS Ultimate: A Linux Distro for Everyone
If you are looking for a Linux distro that is easy to use, customizable, secure, fast, and packed with features, you might want to check out Zorin OS Ultimate. Zorin OS Ultimate is a premium edition of Zorin OS, a popular Linux distro based on Ubuntu that aims to provide a familiar and friendly user experience for newcomers and advanced users alike. In this article, we will explore the features of Zorin OS Ultimate, how to download and install it on your computer, and how to encrypt and password protect your files with 7-Zip, a powerful compression tool that supports AES-256 encryption.
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Features of Zorin OS Ultimate
Zorin OS Ultimate is not just another Linux distro. It is a complete operating system that offers everything you need for your personal or professional use. Here are some of the features that make Zorin OS Ultimate stand out from the crowd:
Premium desktop layouts
Zorin OS Ultimate lets you choose from six different desktop layouts that suit your preferences and workflow. You can switch between them easily with the Zorin Appearance app. The desktop layouts are:
macOS: A layout that mimics the look and feel of macOS, with a dock at the bottom, a menu bar at the top, and a global search feature.
Windows: A layout that resembles the classic Windows interface, with a taskbar at the bottom, a start menu, and a system tray.
Ubuntu: A layout that is similar to the default Ubuntu desktop, with a dock on the left, a top panel, and an app launcher.
Gnome: A layout that follows the minimalist design of Gnome Shell, with a top bar, an overview mode, and a dash.
Touch: A layout that is optimized for touchscreens, with large icons, gestures, and a full-screen app launcher.
Zorin: A layout that is unique to Zorin OS, with a bottom panel, a Zorin menu, and a Zorin taskbar.
With Zorin OS Ultimate, you can also customize the appearance of your desktop with different themes, fonts, icons, and wallpapers. You can even create your own theme with the Zorin Theme Changer app.
Professional-grade creative suite of apps
Zorin OS Ultimate comes with a selection of premium apps that let you unleash your creativity and express yourself. Whether you are into graphic design, video editing, music production, or photography, you will find the tools you need in Zorin OS Ultimate. Some of the apps included are:
GIMP: A powerful image editor that can handle anything from photo retouching to digital painting.
Inkscape: A vector graphics editor that lets you create logos, icons, illustrations, and diagrams.
Krita: A professional painting program that offers a variety of brushes, layers, filters, and effects.
Blender: A 3D modeling and animation software that can also be used for video editing and compositing.
Audacity: A multi-track audio editor and recorder that supports various formats and effects.
Ardour: A digital audio workstation that allows you to record, edit, mix, and master your music.
Darktable: A raw photo development software that offers advanced editing and management features.
Shotcut: A cross-platform video editor that supports a wide range of formats and filters.
Advanced productivity software
Zorin OS Ultimate also provides you with a suite of apps that help you get things done efficiently and effectively. Whether you are working on a project, managing your finances, or organizing your files, you will find the apps you need in Zorin OS Ultimate. Some of the apps included are:
LibreOffice: A complete office suite that includes word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, database, and drawing applications.
GnuCash: A personal and small-business financial accounting software that lets you track your income and expenses.
KeePassXC: A password manager that securely stores your passwords and other sensitive information.
Syncthing: A file synchronization software that lets you sync your files across multiple devices without using cloud services.
Rclone Browser: A graphical interface for rclone, a command-line tool that lets you access and sync files from various cloud storage providers.
Zim: A desktop wiki that lets you create notes, tasks, links, and diagrams in a hierarchical structure.
MindForger: A markdown editor and knowledge management tool that lets you organize your thoughts and ideas in a mind map.
Additional artwork
Zorin OS Ultimate also comes with additional artwork that enhances the look and feel of your desktop. You can choose from over 20 exclusive wallpapers that are designed to match the theme of Zorin OS Ultimate. You can also enjoy the stunning animations and transitions that make your desktop more lively and dynamic.
Zorin Installation Support
Zorin OS Ultimate also gives you access to Zorin Installation Support, a service that helps you install Zorin OS Ultimate on your computer. If you encounter any issues or have any questions during the installation process, you can contact the Zorin team via email or chat and get assistance from the experts. Zorin Installation Support is available for one year from the date of purchase of Zorin OS Ultimate.
How to Download Zorin OS Ultimate
If you are interested in trying out Zorin OS Ultimate on your computer, you need to download the ISO file from the official website. Here are the steps to download Zorin OS Ultimate:
Requirements and recommendations
Before you download Zorin OS Ultimate, you need to make sure that your computer meets the minimum requirements and that you have a reliable internet connection. The minimum requirements for Zorin OS Ultimate are:
Processor: 1 GHz Dual Core - 64-bit
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Storage: 20 GB available space
Display: 800 600 resolution
The recommended requirements for Zorin OS Ultimate are:
Processor: 2 GHz Quad Core - 64-bit
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Storage: 40 GB available space
Display: 1366 768 resolution or higher
You also need to have a USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of capacity or a blank DVD disc to create a bootable media. Additionally, you need to have a valid email address to receive the download link and the password for the ISO file.
Steps to download Zorin OS Ultimate
To download Zorin OS Ultimate, you need to follow these steps:
Go to the Zorin OS website and click on the Zorin OS Ultimate button.
Select your preferred payment method and enter your email address. You can pay with PayPal, credit card, or cryptocurrency. The price of Zorin OS Ultimate is 39 (approximately $45).
After you complete the payment, you will receive an email with the download link and the password for the ISO file. The email will also contain your receipt and your Zorin Installation Support code.
Click on the download link and enter the password when prompted. The ISO file is about 4.5 GB in size, so it may take some time to download depending on your internet speed.
Once the download is finished, verify the integrity of the ISO file by checking its SHA256 checksum. You can use a tool like 7-Zip or HashTab to calculate the checksum and compare it with the one provided in the email. If they match, it means that the ISO file is not corrupted and you can proceed to install Zorin OS Ultimate on your computer.
How to Install Zorin OS Ultimate
To install Zorin OS Ultimate on your computer, you need to create a bootable USB drive or DVD disc from the ISO file and then boot from it. Here are the steps to install Zorin OS Ultimate:
Preparing a bootable USB drive or DVD disc
To create a bootable USB drive or DVD disc from the ISO file, you need to use a tool like Rufus, Etcher, or UNetbootin. These tools are available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. The steps may vary slightly depending on the tool you use, but the general process is as follows:
Insert your USB flash drive or DVD disc into your computer.
Open the tool and select the ISO file and the target device.
If you are using a USB flash drive, make sure that it is formatted as FAT32 or NTFS. If you are using a DVD disc, make sure that it is blank.
Click on the start or write button and wait for the process to complete.
Eject your USB flash drive or DVD disc safely from your computer.
To boot from the USB drive or DVD disc that you created, you need to change the boot order in your computer's BIOS or UEFI settings. The steps may vary depending on your computer model and manufacturer, but the general process is as follows:
Turn off your computer and insert your USB drive or DVD disc into it.
Turn on your computer and press the key that opens the BIOS or UEFI menu. This could be F2, F10, F12, Esc, Del, or another key depending on your computer. You may see a message on the screen that tells you which key to press.
In the BIOS or UEFI menu, navigate to the boot options and select your USB drive or DVD disc as the first boot device. You may need to disable secure boot or enable legacy mode if your computer does not recognize the bootable media.
Save the changes and exit the BIOS or UEFI menu. Your computer will restart and boot from the USB drive or DVD disc.
Installing Zorin OS Ultimate on your computer
Once you boot from the USB drive or DVD disc, you will see the Zorin OS Ultimate welcome screen. You can choose to try Zorin OS Ultimate without installing it or install it on your computer. To install Zorin OS Ultimate on your computer, follow these steps:
Click on the Install Zorin OS button and select your language.
Select your keyboard layout and click on Continue.
Select your installation type and click on Continue. You can choose to erase your entire disk and install Zorin OS Ultimate, or to install Zorin OS Ultimate alongside another operating system. You can also choose to encrypt your installation or use LVM for more flexibility. If you are not sure what to do, you can select the recommended option and let the installer do the work for you.
Select your time zone and click on Continue.
Enter your name, username, password, and computer name. You can also choose to log in automatically or require a password. Click on Continue.
Wait for the installation to complete. This may take some time depending on your hardware and internet speed.
When the installation is finished, click on Restart Now. Remove your USB drive or DVD disc when prompted.
Your computer will restart and boot into Zorin OS Ultimate. Enjoy!
How to Encrypt and Password Protect your Files with 7-Zip
If you want to protect your files from unauthorized access, you can use 7-Zip to encrypt and password protect them. 7-Zip is a free and open source compression tool that supports various formats, including 7z, ZIP, TAR, GZIP, BZIP2, XZ, WIM, and more. It also supports AES-256 encryption, which is one of the strongest encryption methods available. In this section, we will show you how to install 7-Zip on Zorin OS Ultimate, how to use it to create encrypted and password-protected archives, and how to extract them.
What is 7-Zip and why you need it
7-Zip is a compression tool that lets you reduce the size of your files by compressing them into smaller archives. This can help you save disk space, bandwidth, and transfer time. 7-Zip also lets you encrypt your archives with a password and a key that only you know. This can help you secure your files from prying eyes, hackers, or thieves. 7-Zip supports various compression formats, but its own format (7z) offers the highest compression ratio and encryption level. 7-Zip is also free and open source, which means that anyone can use it without paying any fees or worrying about any hidden malware.
How to install 7-Zip on Zorin OS Ultimate
To install 7-Zip on Zorin OS Ultimate , you need to follow these steps:
Open the Software app from the Zorin menu or the dock.
Search for 7-Zip in the search box and select the p7zip-full package.
Click on the Install button and enter your password if prompted.
Wait for the installation to complete. You can now use 7-Zip from the command line or the file manager.
How to use 7-Zip to create encrypted and password-protected archives
To use 7-Zip to create encrypted and password-protected archives, you can use either the command line or the file manager. The command line offers more options and flexibility, while the file manager offers more convenience and simplicity. Here are the steps for both methods:
Using the command line
To use the command line to create encrypted and password-protected archives with 7-Zip, you need to open the Terminal app from the Zorin menu or the dock. Then, you need to use the following syntax:
7z a -mhe=on -p[password] [archive_name].7z [files]
The parameters are as follows:
a: This tells 7-Zip to add files to an archive.
-mhe=on: This tells 7-Zip to encrypt the archive header, which contains the file names and other metadata. This adds an extra layer of security to your archive.
-p[password]: This tells 7-Zip to encrypt the archive with a password that you specify. You can replace [password] with any password of your choice, but make sure to remember it or write it down somewhere safe.
[archive_name].7z: This tells 7-Zip the name and format of the archive that you want to create. You can replace [archive_name] with any name of your choice, but make sure to use the .7z extension for maximum compression and encryption.
[files]: This tells 7-Zip which files or folders you want to add to the archive. You can specify one or more files or folders, separated by spaces. You can also use wildcards (*) to match multiple files or folders.
For example, if you want to create an encrypted and password-protected archive called secret.7z that contains all the files and folders in your Pictures folder, with a password of 1234, you can use this command:
7z a -mhe=on -p1234 secret.7z Pictures/*
You will see a progress bar and some information about the compression and encryption process. When it is done, you will have a secret.7z file in your current directory that is encrypted and password-protected with 7-Zip.
To use the file manager to create encrypted and password-protected archives with 7-Zip, you need to open the Files app from the Zorin menu or the dock. Then, you need to follow these steps:
Select the files or folders that you want to add to the archive. You can use the Ctrl or Shift keys to select multiple items.
Right-click on the selected items and choose Compress... from the context menu.
In the Compress dialog box, enter a name and a location for the archive. Make sure to use the .7z extension for maximum compression and encryption.
Click on the Other Options button and enter a password in the Password field. You can also check the Encrypt the file list too box to encrypt the archive header.
Click on Create and wait for the process to complete.
You will have a .7z file in your chosen location that is encrypted and password-protected with 7-Zip.
How to extract encrypted and password-protected archives with 7-Zip
To extract encrypted and password-protected archives with 7-Zip, you can also use either the command line or the file manager. The command line offers more options and flexibility, while the file manager offers more convenience and simplicity. Here are the steps for both methods:
Using the command line
To use the command line to extract encrypted and password-protected archives with 7-Zip, you need to open the Terminal app from the Zorin menu or the dock. Then, you need to use the following syntax:
7z x -p[password] [archive_name].7z
The parameters are as follows:
x: This tells 7-Zip to extract files from an archive.
-p[password]: This tells 7-Zip to decrypt the archive with a password that you specify. You can replace [password] with the password that you used to encrypt the archive.
[archive_name].7z: This tells 7-Zip the name and format of the archive that you want to extract. You can replace [archive_name] with the name of your archive, but make sure to use the .7z extension.
For example, if you want to extract an encrypted and password-protected archive called secret.7z, with a password of 1234, you can use this command:
7z x -p1234 secret.7z
You will see a progress bar and some information about the extraction process. When it is done, you will have your files extracted in your current directory.
To use the file manager to extract encrypted and password-protected archives with 7-Zip, you need to open the Files app from the Zorin menu or the dock. Then, you need to follow these steps:
Locate the archive that you want to extract and right-click on it.
Select Extract Here from the context menu.
Enter the password that you used to encrypt the archive and click on OK.
Wait for the extraction to complete. You will have your files extracted in the same location as the archive.
Conclusion
Zorin OS Ultimate is a Linux distro that offers a premium and versatile user experience for everyone. It comes with a variety of features, apps, and artwork that make it easy to use, customize, secure, and enjoy. It also supports 7-Zip, a powerful compression tool that lets you encrypt and password protect your files with AES-256 encryption. In this article, we have shown you how to download