keeping a folder private(passworded)

[lostplanet]

i see XP has a briefcase function, but does that allow, like i would expect, a folder to be placed in the briefcase and then lock the briefcase Meaning password it?

i looked up the definition in windows help but it doesnt mention that option and i dont wanna go messing with my folders too much as it has been a nitemare before when sharing over my network.

basically i want a folder to be visible(rather than hidden) but as anyone can access my PC. i want some private files kept in a passworded folder that can be easily accessed by me when i need to.

i would also prefer not to have to password my whole account.

thanks

[Digitalic]

A very simple solution is to download the free version ofCryptainer.

The free version only offers 25 megs of space but you can create an unlimited amount of "vaults". The pay versions offer up to 50 gigs. I use it for sensitive data security and it`s very simple to use, but whatever you do don`t ever forget the password. The company claims they`ve purposely omitted a backdoor for security.

As far as hacking your way in, here`s an excerpt from their help file.

Encryption Algorithm



Cryptainer LE uses a 128-bit implementation of the Blowfish algorithm. Cryptainer ME, Cryptainer PE and Cryptainer 5.0 use a 448-bit implementation of the Blowfish algorithm in Cipher Block Chaining (CBC) mode. This ensures that data encrypted using Cryptainer is impermeable to all known forms of attack. Statistically, it would be impossible to successfully brute-force crack Cryptainer's encryption. Designed by Bruce Schneier, Blowfish is a block cipher with 64-bit block size and variable length keys (up to 448 bits). It has been analyzed considerably and has been proven to be resistant against many attacks such as differential and linear cryptanalysis.



Cryptainer gives the option of using either blowfish or the new standard- the AES (or Rijndael) symmetric encryption algorithm. Effective May 26, 2002, AES is the official U.S. Government standard. It replaces the previous standard (DES).



The new AES meets the following criteria

- Resistance against all known attacks;

- Speed and code compactness on a wide range of platforms;

- Design simplicity.



The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recommends that AES be used by U.S. Government organizations (and others) to protect sensitive information.



How Secure is the AES?

AES is an iterated block cipher with a variable block length and a variable key length. There are several trillion trillion trillion times that of the AES 128-bit keys and the DES 56-bit keys. In the late 1990s, specialized "DES Cracker" machines were built that could recover a DES key within a few hours. In other words, by trying possible key values, the hardware could determine which key was used to encrypt a message. The chances that someone could use the "DES Cracker" like hardware to crack an AES key are close to zero. Assuming that one could build a machine that could recover a DES key in a second, then it would take that machine approximately 149 thousand-billion (149 trillion) years to crack a 128-bit AES key. To put that into perspective, the universe is believed to be less than 20 billion years old.