# Best way to hide or password protect photos on a pc? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 17, 2012, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-hide-or-password-protect-photos-on-a-pc/644240 "2012-12-17T00:31:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-hide-or-password-protect-photos-on-a-pc/644240/1 "2012-12-17T00:31:21Z")
Tech is coming to do some work on cable/wireless tomorrow. Too many pics to transfer to USB, how can I hide or protect personal pics from a tech savvy stranger? ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-hide-or-password-protect-photos-on-a-pc/644240/2 "2012-12-17T01:21:54Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > Tech is coming to do some work on cable/wireless tomorrow. Too many pics to transfer to USB, how can I hide or protect personal pics from a tech savvy stranger? I would install TrueCrypt, make a Volume big enough to hold them all, and move them onto there. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-hide-or-password-protect-photos-on-a-pc/644240/3 "2012-12-17T01:23:37Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > I would install TrueCrypt, make a Volume big enough to hold them all, and move them onto there. Can’t install anything until cable connected. Any other ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-hide-or-password-protect-photos-on-a-pc/644240/4 "2012-12-17T01:54:52Z")
Burn them to a crapload of CDs? ---
**Author:** ![Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marconi_N.Cheese)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-hide-or-password-protect-photos-on-a-pc/644240/5 "2012-12-17T01:57:32Z")
Create a password protected archive. Won’t stop the determined or resourceful but the tech guy is probably neither. Be sure to delete the originals after you test the archive. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-hide-or-password-protect-photos-on-a-pc/644240/6 "2012-12-17T02:02:19Z")
> [@Marconi\_N.Cheese](#): > > Create a password protected archive. Won’t stop the determined or resourceful but the tech guy is probably neither. Be sure to delete the originals after you test the archive. How, please? ---
**Author:** ![Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marconi_N.Cheese)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-hide-or-password-protect-photos-on-a-pc/644240/7 "2012-12-17T02:50:39Z")
What operating system do you have? ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-hide-or-password-protect-photos-on-a-pc/644240/8 "2012-12-17T02:59:30Z")
> [@Marconi\_N.Cheese](#): > > What operating system do you have? Windows ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-hide-or-password-protect-photos-on-a-pc/644240/9 "2012-12-17T03:03:12Z")
“Personal” pics, huh? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-hide-or-password-protect-photos-on-a-pc/644240/10 "2012-12-17T03:05:02Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > > [@Marconi\_N.Cheese](#): > > > > What operating system do you have? > > Windows That really doesn’t narrow it down enough. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-hide-or-password-protect-photos-on-a-pc/644240/11 "2012-12-17T03:05:53Z")
> **[How to create a Password Protected Folder in Windows 7 - Simple Help](https://www.simplehelp.net/2010/11/29/how-to-create-a-password-protected-folder-in-windows-7/)** > > This detailed guide will take you step by step through the process of creating a password protected folder in Windows 7 or 8. I googled this, tested it, and it worked. A password protected folder. Thanks Marconi! ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-hide-or-password-protect-photos-on-a-pc/644240/12 "2012-12-17T03:06:14Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > That really doesn’t narrow it down enough. Sorry, Vista. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-hide-or-password-protect-photos-on-a-pc/644240/13 "2012-12-17T03:06:21Z")
Start, Programs, Accessories, System tools, Backup anybody who wants to chime in with fifteen other ways to find it, feel free. ---
**Author:** ![Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marconi_N.Cheese)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-hide-or-password-protect-photos-on-a-pc/644240/14 "2012-12-17T03:07:57Z")
Assuming a stock home windows installation; you may not be able to pw protect a file or archive. But, you can still create an archive, rename it, and bury it on the drive. Not perfect, but better than nothing. Select the folder(s) and right-click. Choose Send To from the menu and select Compressed (Zip) Folder. Rename the folder to something like e8GWYGo3DWdDHW and bury it somewhere like C:\Windows wain\_32\system mp. Create some subfolders if necessary. Delete the original files. Later, fish the file out, rename it to a .zip file and extract. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-hide-or-password-protect-photos-on-a-pc/644240/15 "2012-12-17T03:08:18Z")
Couldn’t you simply stand behind the tech and talk to them while they do the install? I mean, what in the hell are these photos of, Area 51? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-hide-or-password-protect-photos-on-a-pc/644240/16 "2012-12-17T03:19:31Z")
> [@chacoguy](#): > > Couldn’t you simply stand behind the tech and talk to them while they do the install? I mean, what in the hell are these photos of, Area 51? Porn. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-hide-or-password-protect-photos-on-a-pc/644240/17 "2012-12-17T03:25:06Z")
Unless your tastes in porn are _very_ weird or illegal, I suspect the tech won’t be fazed by it. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-hide-or-password-protect-photos-on-a-pc/644240/18 "2012-12-17T03:32:03Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Unless your tastes in porn are _very_ weird or illegal, I suspect the tech won’t be fazed by it. Not going to assume this is what the OP is talking about but I’m thinking personal nudes would be a type of “porn” one wouldn’t want the tech checking out. PS: Thanks for the info on TrueCrypt, **ZenBeam**! ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-hide-or-password-protect-photos-on-a-pc/644240/19 "2012-12-17T03:42:10Z")
> [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > Not going to assume this is what the OP is talking about but I’m thinking personal nudes would be a type of “porn” one wouldn’t want the tech checking out. Yup. Oddly enough, I refer to my guarded region as Area 51, so good call! I do plan to stay in the room, but thanks to a pervy tech coworker who brags about accessing undefended files from driveways, I’m a little paranoid. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-hide-or-password-protect-photos-on-a-pc/644240/20 "2012-12-17T03:46:22Z")
Sometimes kids and techs snoop where they shouldn’t. I don’t think they need to know what a mom and a dad and another woman with a penis and a midget do to a donkey. New Years Eve can present some unique problems. Let’s not compound them by bringing the kids in to it.😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-hide-or-password-protect-photos-on-a-pc/644240.md?page=2)