System and method for cryptographically protecting data

A method for protecting a data file on a computer system, comprising the steps of: encrypting (1212) the data file using a public key encryption scheme of a public key to create an encrypted data file; generating (1214) a new private key to replace the private key of said encryption scheme public key; update (1216) the encrypted data file with said new private key and said private key to create an updated encrypted data file by transforming the key information encrypted data file; replace (1218) the data file encrypted by the updated encrypted data file; and replace (1220) the private key for the new key.