In Windows7, can folders be password protected? If so, how?
Thanks.
Do you mean locally or over a network? With or without additional software?
In plain Windows 7 Ultimate, you can’t password-protect local folders from local use. Over the network is different: set up a special account and give that account access at the share level. Then people can access the data within that folder using the special account’s credentials.
If you want to keep information confidential, there is no substitute for high-grade encryption. I would suggest something like Truecrypt. This is freeware that will allow you to (among other things) create an encrypted container file that you will then “mount” with a unique drive letter. So while it is an innocent looking file sitting on your hard disk, it is in fact, at least logically, a completely separate and extremely secure encrypted hard drive.
when you want access to the “drive” you simply invoke truecrypt, mount it and provide the password. When you are done, you simply dismount the drive. However if you ever forget the password, your data will be gone forever. If you use triple encryption (AES-twofish-serpent), even a bank of supercomputers will not be able to crack it.
The folder(s) I was wondering about are strictly local; I’m not on a network. Just to allay suspicion, I have been trying to record my feelings about my recent divorce and my ex-wife. It is intensely personal and I don’t want the casual snooper to run across it.
I’ll try the encryption software; Thanks.
TrueCrypt is only necessary when you don’t want people to know that you even have the files in the first place (it disguises encrypted data to look like noise, to varying degrees of success).
If you just want privacy without the secrecy (ordinary encryption), Windows can do that by itself. Password-protect your Windows user account and then right-click any folder, go to Properties -> Advanced -> Encrypt.
You can’t password protect folders indepedent of user accounts, but if you have multiple users set up on the local machine you can use the security tab on the folder to give one account access and deny it to all of the others.
Louis: If you have any questions, I’ll be happy to help. The program has a lot of different options and some of them are way above my head. But if you go the simplest route, which is what I did, I can definitely help you get it setup.
Thanks, I’ll let you know.
EFS is not meant for the casual user like the OP.
Also, if used locally (as is the scenario) here, you can quite easily make yourself unable to unencrypt the files yourself, since the encryption keys are local and associated with your profile.* I would not recommend EFS to the home user.
- Say that your profile is corrupt, or that you backup your encrypted files and reinstall the computer, and so forth.
That’s a good point and definitely worth looking at. I don’t like it because it is tied to the operating system and for reasons I won’t bore anyone with, I get a lot of system crashes and lose the OS on at least one machine every several months.
I don’t know easy it is to recover your data in a situation like that. For example, will the windows back up utility back it up in encrypted form? If you have to do a clean install, can you still get the encrypted folders back?
The thing I like about Truecrypt is that it creates a file on a hard drive. You can back that file up as is and it is still protected. If you have to do a clean install, all you need to do is download the latest version of the software and mount the file.
I don’t think it’s that complicated if you go the simplest route of an encrypted container file. The software even supplies some rudimentary instructions along the way. And I think the interface is reasonably intuitive.
but as I said, the windows feature is worth looking into.
edit: looks like some of these points were already raised and posted while I was writing this.
Good point.
I’ve looked at both the encryption suggestions and I have to admit they are over my worn out old head. I think I’ll just put the stuff on a flash drive and call it even.
Thanks for the information.
What casual snooper has physical access to your computer?
Keep this file on a flash drive, remove it from the computer & keep it in your possession.
In that case, then the best solution is a biometric USB drive that uses your fingerprint to give you access to the encrypted data - Rakuten: Online & In-Store Cash Back | Shop 3,500 Stores!
Thinking about it, I decided it would be better to have one passworded application rather than passworded files; so googling, I found this: Lock Note.
It’s freeware, and I can’t see why it wouldn’t be transferable ( from a back up ) if the computer went down: eg: just remembering the password is enough.
I’ve put the stuff on a flash drive; I’ll hide it and forget where I put it.
I have various people who have keys to my place; my sister for one, a cleaning person for another, a niece who sometimes needs a place to hang out, and a very good friend who checks on my health and well being from time to time. I don’t think any of these people would snoop my computer but curiosity did snuff the kitty.