A DBF table is not encrypted until you select it, edit the access levels, and save the privilege scheme.

When a DBF table’s privilege scheme is saved, dBASE Plus encrypts the table, including the production index (MDX) file and the memo (DBT) file, if any. dBASE Plus also creates a backup copy of the original, unencrypted table. To ensure proper security, the backup files should be archived, then deleted from the system.

Even after a database system has been protected, the database administrator and application programmer maintain control over encryption of copied files.