Windows Folders (Password Protection)

Barley · February 23, 2003, 11:07

Does anyone know how I can password protect Windows folders so no one else can open them?

Thanks.

Eli · February 23, 2003, 12:13

Teehee.

/me joins the question.

Dis · February 23, 2003, 13:51

So you want to hide your porn ehh?

alva · February 23, 2003, 14:13

If you want to do that, make it a hidden file

(and change the extention

)

carnide_ · February 23, 2003, 14:15

If you are using a NTFS volume, use windows security.
This is 100% foolproof.

Otherwise, just rename the folder using an invisible character (like the good old Alt-255 trick) and make the folder invisible.
This will not be 100% foolproof, because people can still choose to list hidden folders and double click on them. But its good enough for the casual user.

Datajack Franit · February 23, 2003, 14:19

Alt-255? (I'm upgrading my PC and DON'T WANT the shop guy to literally swim through my... folders

)

Fve Crathva · February 23, 2003, 16:28

Archive them all, and encrypt and hide the archive file. Power Archiver 2002 does it easily. This will, of course, let a potential intruder know you have something to hide.

SP

Provost Harrison · February 23, 2003, 17:10

Quote:

Originally posted by Datajack Franit
Alt-255? (I'm upgrading my PC and DON'T WANT the shop guy to literally swim through my... folders

)

A lesson well learned from Jonathan King and Gary Glitter

MRT144 · February 23, 2003, 17:25

gary glitter...what a lout

Dis · February 24, 2003, 04:28

also if no one else uses your computer just password lock on BIOS

I'm sure that can be defeated, but not by the casual observer.

Barley · February 24, 2003, 07:55

Thanks for the responses.

I am a general user and my PC is used / shared by my girlfriend. There is nothing on there to dodgy (ala Gary Glitter) but a few documents, private email text, recorded MSN conversations etc. Locking other users out of my PC (blocking the BIOS) is not an option.

Hidden folders is a good idea though security is still not great, im also interested how the Alt 255 would work as although its an invisible character the folder would still be found in Windows explorer.

At the moment ive resorted to hiding the private folder (with an unusual name) down in the depths of an unusual route of sub menu’s.

Does anyone have any other solutions or can give me more info on password protecting folders, archiving / encription etc.

Im on Windows 98 if that makes any difference.

Thanks

Fve Crathva · February 25, 2003, 02:27

I don't know about WinZip, but in PowerArchiver encryption is an option when you're making a zip archive. It will require a password when it builds the zip file, and ask for the password if somebody tries to unzip it.

SP