Locking individual files/folders???

ntd69

Hi there,you experts,you,
I am wondering what software/freeware you recommend (if any) for protecting/preventing access to individual folders or files (as opposed to logging in as a diferent user). My computer is used by a couple of other people and I hate to have to "create new user".
I have dabbled in this area with "Lockbox" and some simple encytption programmes - any other suggestions?
Cheers
NtD
:cheers2::cheers2:

CB

In XP and Vista you can put files into a ZIP with a password, and run the individual files inside of it without unzipping them. That doesn't work for programs, since they rely on multiple files interacting with one another, and usually they have to be installed and registered, but I have a feeling that you're trying to protect media files, not programs...

ntd69

Thanks for that CB...am wanting to protect scanned docs (passports,visas,tax reports and the likes as backups) as well as the odd WORD doc. I have created a personal "folder" but dont want to have to encrytpt/decypt its contents everytime I want to access them...so something simple yet effective required.
Will try the zipping trick you suggest, but is there anything tamperproof but easy-to use-everyday out there?
Cheers in advance
NtD

Thrax

http://www.pgp.com/

ntd69

Thanks for the link Thrax....will check out their price list
NtD

CB

ntd69 wrote:

Thanks for that CB...am wanting to protect scanned docs (passports,visas,tax reports and the likes as backups) as well as the odd WORD doc. I have created a personal "folder" but dont want to have to encrytpt/decypt its contents everytime I want to access them...so something simple yet effective required.
Will try the zipping trick you suggest, but is there anything tamperproof but easy-to use-everyday out there?
Cheers in advance
NtD

I understand what you mean, but ZIP files are much easier to use than they used to be. Windows essentially treats it like any other folder, except the contents are compressed. You put the ZIP file where the folder would have been, and access it the same way: Double click on it (enter the password, if there is one) and the files appear in the file manager, just as if you'd opened a folder. You can open them, and (I think) you can even edit them as they are in the ZIP. If windows doesn't let you edit them, I know that WinRAR (can get it from download.com) certainly does.

kryyst

CB's idea will work and you can edit the folders within the zip archive. My only complaint is that you can't automatically tell windows to use 0% compression when making the folder. That would make working on files within the folder much faster.

Another option is to put them on an external drive that can be encrypted as a whole, there are many USB thumb drives that can be totally encrypted.

ntd69

Thanks guys...all vialble options and will try them out...Not sure how to password protect after compressing in windows (usingWinrar) though, is there a trick to that?
Regards
NtD

kryyst

You know, I didn't realize there isn't a way to make an encrypted folder in windows natively in windows. So to make the initial encrypted folder you would need to use winrar or winzip or something. But after that windows native zip ability will handle it.

BLuKnight

I'd recommend you have a look at TrueCrypt and AxCrypt. Both are free. TrueCrypt is more toward creating virtual disks which are encrypted. AxCrypt is used to encrypt individual files. I use both applications.

ntd69

Thanks BK, will do that
Regards, NtD