Folder protection

[needhelp]

I hope I have come to the right forum for this one.
I am running Windows ME and it runs just fine but I have a family member who also uses the computer and I have some very important files and folders that I dont want them to access.
I mean I dont even want them to be able to open the folder or file to view their content. (personal files, online Bank statements, etc)
So what I want to know is there a freeware folder or file password software program that I can download that will do the job for me. I want a program that makes it impossible to open the file/folder unless you give the correct password. I have tried a couple of progs that just hide the folders but they dont really work satisfactorily cos if there is any shortcut anywhere on the computer for this file/folder then it is still possible to access the file/folder even though its hidden.
I know you can do the administrator thing with ME but if I do that I think that anyone can still access the folder but cant make changes to it.
As I said I dont want them to be able to actually open the folder.
Any advice on this one would be appreciated guys..

[newme]

hello there is a program that is not loaded by default,read through this see if it helps

[mountaineer]

Dont keep porn on your computer. Your wife will find it every time.

[needhelp]

Thanks newme I
have this installed and its not quite what I want, it only makes a copy of your original file and compresses it so you can encrypt it but the original file is still left on the computer in its original form and anyone can access it and open it.
I would have to delete the original file if I did it this way which I didn't really want to do. I just want to place a password on the file or folder so that only those with the password could open it..

Mountaineer, I note your attempt at humour.

[Eaglefeather]

ABC Chaos - is one of the programs you might want to look at. Not only does it lock your file with a password it also encrypts it. It is free and can be used for many different sorts of files, .doc, .txt, .jpg, .gif, etc.

I don't remember from which of the freeware site I picked it up but you could try these, I believe you will find it listed in either Utilities or Security.

CNET - http://www.cnet.com/

Freeware Files - http://www.freewarefiles.com/

Freewarehome - http://www.freewarehome.com

Freedownload Center - http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/

Another program that amost does what you want is called Paranoid Lite. It encrypts folders and files and you can hide them from view, but it does not password protect them. The major problem is that if someone finds the program they may be able to figure out what it does. Of course they would also have to come across your hidden files as well.

I have the program hidden inside the files of Corell WP Suit 7, it has hundreds of files and no reason for anyone to go searching through them. It seemed like a good place to place it and so far it has worked fine for me.

I believe I got it from Freeware Home, but I have no idea if it is still available or not. The addy below is the address of the web site of the chap that wrote the program. The light version is freeware.

http://home.earthlink.net/~ockham07/paranoid.htm

I have some rather sensitive docs in relation to my membership on a board of directors. Most of this stuff is the business of the board and no one else. By locking it I can leave my PC feeling confident that the information will not be available to the wrong people.

I used to use Paranoid, but I could never be 100% sure that it was safe. Now I use ABC Chaos to encrypt and password protect, then I use Paranoid to hide it.

Hope you find this helpful.

[pillainp]

Hi needhelp,

FakeFolder for Windows is a free program that I used to use a long time ago for just the thing you want to do now. It is free and the URL is given below Try and see if you like it. The program itself is password protectable and hides the contents of the folder that is protected, so that you can only access it through FakeFolder. The program is meant for Win9x, but try and see if it works in Windows Me.

http://www.winguide.ch/securityfolder.htm

[morriswindgate]

Here is another freebie that works by hiding your file within another file with a password. WIth this program you can hide the folder inside a jpeg and when people click on it all they will see is the original picture.

http://www.camouflage.freeserve.co.uk/

[Eaglefeather]

Pillainp your link is no longer valid. However I do believe I have seen it at one of the Freeware sites.

Morris thanks for your link. I like what I read about it. Sometimes I have to share info with other members of the board and due to security conscerns have always had to do it personally. With Camouflage it just may be possible for us to use email instead.

[glc]

EF: if all you need is e-mail security, you can use PGP.

[pillainp]

EF: that site is valid. It was just that the period at the end of the sentence was also being included in the URL. I have edited that post. Try it now.

http://www.winguide.ch/securityfolder.htm

BTW, I had just downloaded the new version from this very site just before my original post.

[Eaglefeather]

I need more than email security glc. There are always lots of kids in the house, well I guess they are really not kids anymore, 17 & 18 year olds. Although I don't think any of them would touch my PC, I can never be 100% sure.

Although the information would mean nothing to anyone outside of this city in the wrong hands here in town it could pose some rather ticklish problems. So I have to be very sure no one has access but myself.

Now I have to ask, glc, what is PGP?

Thanks Pillainp, it worked fine this time. I have downloaded and will take a look at it.

[glc]

Pretty Good Privacy. It's an encryption tool, information exchange is easy using its public/private key pairs.

www.pgp.com