History0 min ago
Can i password protect my file?
16 Answers
Does anyone know, is it possible to put a password on a particular file in Windows?
Let me explain, I am a freelance designer and in one of my main files, I have a sub-file where I keep all work and designs that are yet to be patented. My laptop is very secure and only used by me or my family, but I recently had a scare when my best mate wanted to prove a point, and proceeded to "hack" into my design file. Nothing came of it, and we trust each other profusely, however it has got me thinking�..
So, is there a way of password protecting just this file?
This particular file is in Windows 2003 XP Pro.
Thanks
Let me explain, I am a freelance designer and in one of my main files, I have a sub-file where I keep all work and designs that are yet to be patented. My laptop is very secure and only used by me or my family, but I recently had a scare when my best mate wanted to prove a point, and proceeded to "hack" into my design file. Nothing came of it, and we trust each other profusely, however it has got me thinking�..
So, is there a way of password protecting just this file?
This particular file is in Windows 2003 XP Pro.
Thanks
Answers
Best Answer
No best answer has yet been selected by yoshimoto. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.If the file is not already in a folder, make a new folder and put the file(s) you want to protect in it. Right-click the folder and select "send to" and "compressed folder".
Double-click the zipped folder and click the file tab, and wallah!!!! there appears an "add a password" option.
It is easiest to do all this on your desktop so you always remember where the folders you are working on are situated.
Ciao for now.
Double-click the zipped folder and click the file tab, and wallah!!!! there appears an "add a password" option.
It is easiest to do all this on your desktop so you always remember where the folders you are working on are situated.
Ciao for now.
YvonneM, I hope you don't rely on that method to protect your files. You can open such files like this:
Open the plain file in a text editor
You will see loads of gibberish, except for one small thing which is in plain English - the password! Make a note of it.
Now open the usual way, enter the password you have just noted, and voila!
Open the plain file in a text editor
You will see loads of gibberish, except for one small thing which is in plain English - the password! Make a note of it.
Now open the usual way, enter the password you have just noted, and voila!
I've just tried out a few freeware encryption programs. The ones I felt were most useful were:
1) TrueCrypt ( http://www.truecrypt.org/ ). Probably more powerful than what you need, it creates a "hidden" virtual drive that can only be accessed by password. The main drawback that I could see is that if you need a large capacity storage area, it would be best to set up a number of smaller drives - as someone could find a suspiciously large file on your machine and suspect that it has your data. They shouldn't be able to access it, though - and the help file gives a way to further obfuscate your data should you be forced to give up your password under threat of violence!
2) AxCrypt ( http://axcrypt.axantum.com/ ). A lot easier to use, just right-click and password protect.
1) TrueCrypt ( http://www.truecrypt.org/ ). Probably more powerful than what you need, it creates a "hidden" virtual drive that can only be accessed by password. The main drawback that I could see is that if you need a large capacity storage area, it would be best to set up a number of smaller drives - as someone could find a suspiciously large file on your machine and suspect that it has your data. They shouldn't be able to access it, though - and the help file gives a way to further obfuscate your data should you be forced to give up your password under threat of violence!
2) AxCrypt ( http://axcrypt.axantum.com/ ). A lot easier to use, just right-click and password protect.
I second the TrueCrypt idea. If your mate can get into that, then either he's using a keylogger on your computer or he's very bright indeed.
As LeMarchand says, it basically creates a file on your computer that you choose to be a certain size (make sure it's adequately large to store all your stuff now and for some time into the future too). Then you run the TrueCrypt program and load that file by entering your password. It then behaves as like a new drive (you can choose the drive letter, like S:), and you can freely use it in any program you use like Photoshop etc. Once finished, close TrueCrypt and unmount the virtual drive, and your stuff is secure.
As LeMarchand says, it basically creates a file on your computer that you choose to be a certain size (make sure it's adequately large to store all your stuff now and for some time into the future too). Then you run the TrueCrypt program and load that file by entering your password. It then behaves as like a new drive (you can choose the drive letter, like S:), and you can freely use it in any program you use like Photoshop etc. Once finished, close TrueCrypt and unmount the virtual drive, and your stuff is secure.
wildwood: it'll certainly work, but it's not bulletproof. It will probably stop yoshimoto's friend from getting access to his files. But it wouldn't stop someone who knew about such matters (the government, some cracker). TrueCrypt uses as default AES-128, which would stop all the computers in the world working together and getting access to the files. Assuming the password is strong enough, that is ;)