File Security?

Question

Can someone tell me how I can protect individual files from being opened by somebody else? I am using Windows XP 2

Answer 1

Stop others from seeing your Windows XP files? Seriously? There are options - but they don't work! For serious security you need to become a Linux user.



Windows can hardly be called secure. Even a remote system can easily break in. Someone at your machine - forget it. Hidden property set on a folder? Even in Windows that doesn't work. In Linux it doesn't even apply. Encryption? Someone can grab your file and crack the thing usually in hours. All it does is flag your information as "interesting". So go to Linux. There you have privacy and security - for no cost except your time to learn.



If you don't want Linux but you do want to hide your information - then carry it with you on a memory stick, encrypted in a simple zip file to discourage any casual person finding the thing if you lose it.



Test Linux first right there on your machine. Just download the 700 MB ISO from http://getpclinuxos.com [a great desktop-oriented Linux] and burn it using ImgBurn from http://imgburn.com and test it as much as you like by running it from the CD.



Users can share a Linux system and personal information will stay away from prying eyes by SYSTEM DESIGN - not user settings or add-ins. Since all is free and open source, you have the same tools available to you as are on main frames and used by major corporations. Free virus checkers, firewalls, system-level encryption - and by-file security control - are available in Linux. If you were a National Security Agency employee, that's what you would use at work - and at home too.



BTW, that same Live CD can be used to view any Windows file on any Windows computer - including those in "hidden" folders - and can include software needed to trivially crack some encryption packages. I know of what I speak because - as a consultant and for the legitimate owner of the data - I've recovered lost - even encrypted - data from all kinds of "hidden" Windows directories. Piece of cake.



Good luck!

Answer 2

There is generally no proper password protection system for WinXP. You can try the Microsoft Private Folder at { http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Lo... }



or



You can try a simple Batch file trick which works on most of the people and super hides the files thereby preventing deletion. Moreover complicate the folder name on your USB before hiding so it makes for self protection as the script first asks for the name of the folder to be hidden and then the password to hide it or unhide it.





Paste the following in a notepad and save as password.bat



cls

@echo OFF

title Super Hidden Folders Creator - Selva Kumar

echo Name of the folder

set/p "fol=>"

if EXIST %fol% goto SELECT

if notEXIST %fol% GOTO notfound

:notfound

ECHO File Not FOund

goto End

:SELECT

echo Hide/Unhide [h/u]

set/p "com=>"

if %com%==h goto HIDE

if %com%==u goto UNHIDE

:HIDE

attrib %fol% +s +h

goto End

:UNHIDE

echo Enter password to Unlock folder

set/p "pass=>"

if NOT %pass%==YOURPASSWORD goto FAIL

attrib %fol% -s -h

goto End

:FAIL

echo Invalid password

delay 2000

goto End

:End

Answer 3

Two easy avenues are the Encryption softwares or Password Protected Zip Files.

Answer 4

Take the advice of the second answer.Other answers mention Linux and File Encryption.Neither is perfect as all files including encrypted files can be decrypted. The second answer is the most practical one.

Answer 5

go for a reliable security option like Data Protecto to use password protect folder option. It gives you edge so that you can protect your individual files properly and with security. It should also give you edge to independently lock your essential files as per you unique password requirements.

Answer 6

place the files you want to hide into a folder...

then, right-click on that folder and go into properties...

go into the sharing tab...

check the box under local sharing and security to make the folder private...

Now, nobody can access that folder except your account...

Make sure your account has a password so that nobody can access it...

Answer 7

Use a hidden encrypted drive called cryptainer http://www.cypherix.com/cryptainerle/ or truencrypt http://www.truencrypt.com/