How to password protect folders in Windows XP?

Question

I work for a very small company and we use a computer to share common files throughout the network here. My boss needs to be able to access some of the folders/files from his computer but not allow anyone else to see them such as employee files. Is there a way to password protect certain folders so that he can view them from his PC and block them from other computers on the same network without using remote desktop?

Answer 1

To make it almost impossible to open without a password use either TrueCrypt or AxCrypt. I prefer TrueCrypt.



TrueCrypt is also strongly recommended for securing company confidential information on laptop computers. It will protect the information even if the computer is lost or stolen.



If you use a long password that contains letters, numbers, and

symbols (preferably a generated password) it will be impossible within your lifetime to open the encrypted files without the password Do not lose your password!



TrueCrypt free

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truecrypt

http://www.download.com/TrueCrypt/3000-2092_4-10628214.html?tag=lst-0-1

http://sourceforge.net/projects/truecrypt



Videos on how to use.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=truecrypt&search=Search



On-the-fly encryption software which can create a virtual encrypted disk within a file and mount it as a real disk. It can also encrypt a hard disk partition or storage device, such as USB flash drive. Moreover, TrueCrypt supports plausible deniability.



TrueCrypt provides two levels of plausible deniability, in case an adversary forces you to reveal the password: a hidden volume (steganography- more information may be found here); no TrueCrypt volume can be identified (volumes cannot be distinguished from random data). TrueCrypt uses encryption algorithms AES-256, Blowfish (448-bit key), CAST5, Serpent, Triple DES, and Twofish. It is based on Encryption for the Masses (E4M) 2.02a, conceived in 1997.



AxCrypt 1.6.3 (free: donation optional)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AxCrypt

http://www.filehippo.com/download_axcrypt/

http://www.axantum.com/AxCrypt/

http://www.download.com/AxCrypt/3000-2092_4-10564425.html?tag=lst-0-1

AxCrypt File Encryption Software - Free Personal Privacy and Security for Windows 98/ME/NT/2K/XP with AES-128 File Encryption, Compression and transparent Decrypt and Open in the original application.



Since AxCrypt works on a file-by-file basis, you can safely and easily send encrypted files to other users via e-mail or any other means, you can even make self-decrypting files so the recipient does not need AxCrypt installed to decrypt.

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Add password to in XP a compressed file or folder.

(Vista does not support this)



Right click on the file or folder, choose send to compressed file.

Double click on the compressed file to open.

On the menu bar click on File and then "Add a Password"

Delete original uncompressed file or folder.

This password can be broken.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306531



Another method to create a compressed locked files is to use IZArc or 7Zip. They both support 256-bit AES encryption which is much stronger than the password protection offered by the Windows built in ZIP utility.



IZArc (free)

http://www.download.com/IZArc/3000-2250_4-10667135.html?tag=lst-0-1

http://www.izarc.org/

IZArc supports 256-bit AES encryption to secure your data.



If you have broken archives IZArc can help you to repair them with ease.



IZArc is the ultimate freeware archive utility supporting many archive formats like: 7-ZIP, A, ACE, ARC, ARJ, B64, BH, BIN, BZ2, BZA, C2D, CAB, CDI, CPIO, DEB, ENC, GCA, GZ, GZA, HA, IMG, ISO, JAR, LHA, LIB, LZH, MDF, MBF, MIM, NRG, PAK, PDI, PK3, RAR, RPM, TAR, TAZ, TBZ, TGZ, TZ, UUE, WAR, XXE, YZ1, Z, ZIP, ZOO.



IZArc: How to split large archive

http://www.izarc.org/tutorials.html#split



or



7-Zip (free)

http://www.7-zip.org/

http://www.download.com/7-Zip/3000-2250_4-10634921.html?tag=lst-0-2



http://www.7-zip.org/7z.html

7-Zip supports encryption with the AES-256 algorithm. This algorithm uses a cipher key with a length of 256 bits. To create that key, 7-Zip runs a derivation function based on a SHA-256 hash algorithm. A key derivation function produces a derived key from the text password entered by the user. To increase the cost of an exhaustive search to crack a password, 7-Zip uses a large number of iterations when it produces a cipher key from a password.



Supported formats:

Packing / unpacking: 7z, ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2 and TAR;

Unpacking only: RAR, CAB, ISO, ARJ, LZH, CHM, Z, CPIO, RPM, DEB and NSIS. For ZIP and GZIP formats (includes GZ)

High compression ratio in new 7z format with LZMA compression provides compression ratio that is 2-10 % better than ratio provided by PKZip and WinZip.

=================

Password protect Microsoft Office files

Open file. On the Tools menu, click Options, and click the Security tab. Choose password options listed.



Demo of how to password protect Microsoft Office files

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/HA012001751033.aspx



Set a password to open or modify a document, workbook, or presentation

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word/HA101483331033.aspx

Applies to: Microsoft Office Excel 2007, PowerPoint 2007, Word 2007

==================

How do I password protect my files and folders in Windows?

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000705.htm



How to make files and folders private in Windows XP so that only you have access to them

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/930987



Windows Tips: Password-Protect Your Sensitive Files and Folders

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,110663-page,1/article.html



Keep Your Data More Secure

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/data/default.mspx



Encrypt files or folders

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/learnmore/encryptdata.mspx

Answer 2

Step one: Make a new folder by right clicking and selecting New Folder. Step two: Put all your files and stuff you want to protect in that folder. Step three: Convert your new folder into a .zip (or compressed) folder. To do that, right click, hover your mouse over Send To until you get a second menu, then click Compressed (zipped) Folder Step four: You should then get another copy of the folder somewhere on your desktop. But in a .zip form. Delete your original folder and keep your zipped folder. Step five: Open up your zipped folder and go to file in your top left corner and go down the menu until you see Add Password. Click it. Step six: To make sure your files are protected, open up your zipped folder, click the copy of the same folder but not zipped, then click the files. There should be a window that will ask you for a password. And that's how you make one! Hope this information is helpful!

Answer 3

From what you said, I guess you need a program to help you protect files on LAN.You can use Kakasoft Shared Folder Protector, it's able to protect files on LAN from being accessed or copied by specified users while allowing certain users to read it.

Answer 4

Try getting one of those programs like "Magic Folders" you can make them disapear completely with password access.



Try "Tucows".

Answer 5

Recover Your windows Password - http://tinyurl.com/XRcuCRs2xL