3.1.11 - Hide File With OpenStego

**Mission: Encrypt the Data and Save the World... or At Least Your Files**

1. **Encrypt the user data like you're hiding state secrets.**
Open your trusty search bar (no, not for the meaning of life, just OpenStego) and type in **OpenStego**. It’s the first match, like that one friend who always shows up early to the party. Select it.

2. **Choose your files wisely.**
Select the **Message**, **Cover**, and **Output Stego** files, because you’re going to need them for this top-secret operation.

- For the **Message File**, select the ellipses [...] (those little three dots are like your secret decoder ring).
- Double-click **John.txt** (because who wouldn’t want to read a thrilling file about John?).

3. **For the Cover File**, click those mysterious ellipses again, and double-click **gear.png** (because what's more undercover than a gear?).

4. **Output Stego File**: Enter **send.png** like you’re sending a message in a bottle to a pirate. Then hit **Open**.

5. **Time to password-protect it, because even your computer needs a secret handshake.**
In the **Password** field, enter **NoMor3L3@ks!** (because security is no joke, and that’s a very serious password). Confirm it in the next field, and repeat after me: **NoMor3L3@ks!**.

6. **Hide Data** like it’s your only job.
Hit **Hide Data**, then select **OK**—you’re all set to go deep undercover.

7. **Now for the extraction process: No, this is not a movie plot.**
Under **Data Hiding**, select **Extract Data** (just like opening a treasure chest full of secrets).

- For **Input Stego File**, click the ellipses and choose **send.png** (your encrypted masterpiece).
- For **Output Folder**, click the ellipses and choose **Export** (because you’re exporting all the secret intel). Then hit **Select Folder**.

8. **Let’s verify that everything’s been decrypted like magic.**
Open **File Explorer** from the taskbar (you know, where all the magic happens).
- Double-click **Documents**, because who doesn’t have a secret folder in there?
- Double-click **Export**, because you’re officially in the secret lair now.
- And finally, double-click **John.txt** to reveal the encrypted treasure… I mean, file.

---

And there you go! Mission complete, world saved, and John’s secrets are now safe. Well, unless you forget the password. 😜