ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors is a powerful, open-source office suite comprising document, spreadsheet, and presentation editing tools. It is distributed under the GNU AGPL v.3.0 license, allowing users to view and edit documents offline.
As of version 5.2.4, ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors introduced an innovative end-to-end encryption feature in its developer preview. This security feature protects files such as DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, ODT, ODS, ODP, and even temporary files using the AES-256 encryption algorithm. As a result, your documents can be securely stored both locally and in the cloud. The implementation of blockchain technology with asymmetric encryption further ensures secure password storage and transmission.
Collaboration on encrypted documents is feasible by connecting to a cloud infrastructure that requires the ONLYOFFICE Community Edition to be installed.
This guide will take you through the steps to test the end-to-end encryption feature in ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors.
Step 1: Download ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors
If you’re new to ONLYOFFICE, install the latest version of the desktop suite following the instructions in this tutorial.
If you already have ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors installed, ensure it is the latest version and update if necessary.
Step 2: Enable End-to-End Encryption Mode
Start the application and navigate to the Settings tab. Click the ‘Test end-to-end encryption’ switch to enable the feature. The End-to-End Encryption tab will then appear on the left sidebar:
Step 3: Create an Account in the Test Blockchain Network
Switch to the End-to-End Encryption tab and click the ‘Create an account’ button:
In the window that opens, you will be given a Mnemonic phrase. This phrase is used to generate your key pair (both private and public keys). Keep this phrase safe as it is the only way to unlock your blockchain account. You will need it to restore your password, access your account from another device, or manage multiple accounts.
Set and confirm a password for your account. It must be at least 8 characters long and will be required to enable encryption mode in future sessions.
Click the ‘Create account’ button.
Note: ONLYOFFICE’s private blockchain network is intended for testing purposes only. It is not recommended to use this solution for handling sensitive documents.
That’s it! You can now start editing your documents locally in an encrypted form.
Useful Links
- Visit the ONLYOFFICE support forum for any inquiries or assistance.
- Explore ONLYOFFICE’s code repositories on GitHub.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What file formats does the end-to-end encryption support?
ONLYOFFICE’s end-to-end encryption supports DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, ODT, ODS, and ODP formats. - Is the encryption secure for storing sensitive documents?
The feature is currently in a testing phase and is not recommended for use with sensitive documents. - Can I collaborate on encrypted documents?
Yes, collaboration is possible by connecting to a compatible cloud service running the ONLYOFFICE Community Edition.