Password Protection On Directories?

[Immortal_Daemon]

Hey guys, I'm just wondering if there is a way to password protect directories from younger prying eyes.

There is one account on this computer, that logs in upon boot up. The only way I can think of to protect my folders is to create other accounts and have my other family members use them with restricted access, but I know that if I do that, they'll know something is amiss.

Is there a way to protect certain directories? Or perhaps is there a program I could download to do such a thing (preferably with no spyware)?

Thanks in advance.

[Scarecrow Man]

There is a few options.

If you are using XP, you can create user accounts, and set a password on the account. You will then be asked to "Make your folder's private". This will prevent the other users from entering your folders. They will get an "Access Denied" message.

If you are using XP Pro another way is to set up groups and permissions. You can change specific users or groups to have no rights on certain folders, therefore they cannot read/write to this folder.

[Immortal_Daemon]

Thanks for the quick reply.

But I'm sorta looking at that as a last resort.

Any idea if there's a program out there that could do it for me? I'd really rather not have to make multiple accounts.

[Scarecrow Man]

You can set a password on a compressed folder.

http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,110663,00.asp

[Belatucadrus]

Freeware file encryption tools a good selection here with ratings on how good they are, should be something suitable here.

[Kevin]

I use cryptainer LE. This program creates a partition on your hard drive up to the amount of space you select (maximum for the free version is 25mb) This program uses a 128 bit encyption code, which is very very hard to hack, and will most definately keep out any younger viewers. The website address is http://www.cypherix.com/downloads.htm. I think this program will help you alot. As i said, i use this program myself, and i highly recommend it. You can create a very strong 128 bit password, that will not be accessible to anyone but yourself. You can also make more than one encrypted drive using this program. It is very useful, and works great!

I would also recommend giving everyone that uses your computer, their own username and password. I don't think your family would see this as unusual, because it gives everyone their own profile to load their own games and files, and doesn't clutter your own personal desktop. If they ask why you want a seperate account from them, just tell them it's easier to have your own account, that way you can personalize it the way you like.

[-pops-]

I would go with Kevin's second suggestion and give everyone their own user name and password.

I have have a very bad experience with one of these password protection programs, Steganos Safe, where it forgot the password - that's right the software itself forgot/lost or was otherwise unable to respond to the password I had given it. I know I was using the correct one but the damnable thing would not let me in. Fortunately there wasn't anything of importance in there, I was just doing some tests on it but it certainly put me off using anything like that again.

Another way (but it costs and may not be suitable for you) is to install a second, removable, hard drive. I build the machines for my son's business. He has a lot of confidential work files on his machines and he also needs to have his worked reliably backed up and safe in case of theft or fire. To this end, each of his machines has an auxiliary hard drive installed in a caddy which fits in an otherwise spare drive bay. The removable drive stores all confidential work files and a full system backup of that machine. By doing this the drive can be removed overnight and at weekends and taken off the premises.