So for personal reasons I finally got around to needing to password protect some files, only to find that windows vista does not allow me to protect my information. Compression and encryption does not help me in the matter I that I need, and I would like to get some free software that would simply provide password only entry into a folder.
Any help would be highly appreciated.
Posted by jebus202 (Member # 2524) on :
Hehehehehe.
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
AxCrypt works great and is free but works only on files, not on folders.
Posted by EarlNMeyer-Flask (Member # 1546) on :
Could you create a TruCrypt volume? Like a file volume to store encrypted, password protected files?
Windows allows encryption of folders with a certificate, but I guess that is not what you want since you want password control.
Maybe offsite storage like SpiderOak will fill your needs since that allows password protected encrypted storage.
Posted by odouls268 (Member # 2145) on :
Vista has already sent copies of ALL of your files, folders, and keystrokes to Microsoft, and cc'd Bill Gates's personal trio-core processor brain implant.
So, I wouldn't really worry about it too much.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
Maybe my need could help describe what I need it to do. Some years back when my brother died all access to his accounts went with him, fiscal and otherwise. I don't want to leave behind any more problems than I have to and my brother and I have an agreement where there is a single password that we both know that will allow each other access to necessary information just in case.
I need to password protect a file on a flash drive, that my brother can use even if I have to help him set up identical software. I don't like the idea of leaving my family responsible for things like my car with no idea on the details, especially seeing as one of my relatives is the co-signer on my car.
Posted by Rawrain (Member # 12414) on :
I like to change the file extension to something else, since no one but you knows what the original file extension is someone can sit there all day trying to guess what it is.. take everything you would like to lock up, put it all in a zip folder and rename .zip or if you wanna be spectacular use something like .7z or .rar , then change the file extention ._.
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
AH, use 7zip's password protection with AES256 encryption, choose a strong password, and you're good.
Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :
Axcrypt. Free and nearly exactly what you are looking for.
quote:Password Protect any number of files using strong encryption.
Right-click integration with Windows Explorer makes AxCrypt the easiest way to encrypt individual files in Windows.
Double-click integration makes it as easy to open, edit and save protected files as it is to work with unprotected files.
Many additional features, but no configuration required. Just install it and use it.
AxCrypt encrypts files that are safely and easily sent to other users via e-mail or any other means. Self-decrypting files are also supported, removing the need to install AxCrypt to decrypt.
Posted by manji (Member # 11600) on :
quote:Originally posted by Rawrain: I like to change the file extension to something else, since no one but you knows what the original file extension is someone can sit there all day trying to guess what it is..
This is the silliest piece of "advice" I've heard in quite a while.
Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
FYI, opening any file with Ubuntu will work, even if you renamed your .doc file into a .xls file, for exemple. This kind of things only fools Windows.
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
quote:I like to change the file extension to something else, since no one but you knows what the original file extension is someone can sit there all day trying to guess what it is.. take everything you would like to lock up, put it all in a zip folder and rename .zip or if you wanna be spectacular use something like .7z or .rar , then change the file extention ._.
This will fool someone technical for about all of a few seconds.
edit: and regarding the original question, as far as I'm aware, if it is just a folder, there's no way to password protect it that can't be circumvented pretty easily. There needs to be something done, such as encryption or password-based compression (really just encryption again). Remember, the hierarchical structure of folders is an illusion. If you're "just" protecting access to the folder, someone can just get at your files directly.