Author Topic: Lock a folder down? (Read 26,592 times)

moerl · « **on:** November 01, 2005, 06:21 AM »

It's so simple, and yet I'm amazed I haven't found a simple way to do this yet. I mean, it's almost embarrassing! My sister asked me the other day about how she could lock a folder down so she could access it only after entering a password, and well, I couldn't answer that question. I've been looking for this kind of tool myself for months and never found anything that does just that and is secure. Well, nothing short of this, but it's not free :/ Is there no free alternative?

JeffK · « **Reply #1 on:** November 01, 2005, 06:54 AM »

That's a good question. I also have not found a free or even cheap answer to this. I purchased FileGhost from asmdev.net recently but I had problems with it on my machine and am waiting for an upgrade. This software firm produces Dupetrasher for managing duplicate files and I find it very good.

Jeff

moerl · « **Reply #2 on:** November 01, 2005, 07:23 AM »

To be fair, Folder Lock is supposed to be excellent. It's supposed to be very good at what it's supposed to do, so that's great. I was just wondering if there's anything in the freeware world similar to it in terms of function, and perhaps even quality.

moerl · « **Reply #3 on:** November 03, 2005, 08:59 AM »

What happened to this..? Gotta bump it :/

tsaint · « **Reply #4 on:** November 03, 2005, 11:33 AM »

Is this any good?
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/hidefolders.html

tsaint · « **Reply #5 on:** November 03, 2005, 11:46 AM »

... or :
Cryptainer LE Free Encryption Software at
http://www.cypherix.co.uk/cryptainerle/index.htm

moerl · « **Reply #6 on:** November 04, 2005, 01:55 AM »

I guess when we start talking encryption software, this one's hard to beat: http://www.truecrypt.org/

My problem with it has always been that it seemed complicated to use and therefore hard to recommend someone like my sister who'd simply like to slap a password on any folder on the system. I'll have to give TrueCrypt another shot. And thanks for the suggestions.. but the first one isn't exactly what I'm looking for, and the second one is situated in a field that TrueCrypt seems to dominate without question. My conclusion: I need to re-check out TrueCrypt.

mouser · « **Reply #7 on:** November 04, 2005, 03:39 AM »

don't forget bestcrypt, perhaps one of the better known full drive encryption tools:
http://www.jetico.com/

and drivecrypt as well:
http://www.securstar.com/

mouser · « **Reply #8 on:** November 04, 2005, 03:39 AM »

this thread kind of got derailed into encryption... still be nice to hear about more lightweight folder locking/hiding utils.

moerl · « **Reply #9 on:** November 04, 2005, 04:09 AM »

Yeah. Encryption isn't hard to find.. TrueCrypt is amazing. It's far more advanced than I need it to be, and hell, I don't even use encryption. I wouldn't know what for

. I probably will start using it to hide the nekkid pics on my HD from those occasional PC hoggers that come as guests...

Anyway.. it's hard to believe there is no free, easy to use app that will allow me to simply slap a password on any folder on the system. It seems so simple! It's all I ask.. a password that will keep any folder locked down. If double-clicked it should simply show a PW dialog.. if you enter the correct PW, it lets you in, if not, well, then not!

Simple enough? I'd think so.

alexp · « **Reply #10 on:** November 04, 2005, 05:39 AM »

I think I have found what you are after, it doesn't work quite like what you are after, you have to select lock/unlock from the contect menu but all it does is lock the folder.

You can find it here

moerl · « **Reply #11 on:** November 04, 2005, 09:32 AM »

That looks just like the type of thing I was looking for.. I'll check it out when I get around to it. Thank you

wolf7 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 12, 2005, 09:03 AM »

Here's a good free program (well, a free version anyway

) that can Lock files and folders using encryption. http://www.winguardpro.com/ ; The free version has a few other useful features as well.

Nighted · « **Reply #13 on:** November 18, 2005, 06:49 PM »

Another free one: EncryptOnClick

cowcrombie · « **Reply #14 on:** November 24, 2005, 10:11 AM »

one way you an hide a folder,

have the folder very deep into the directory. e.g. C:\WINDOWS\system32\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA\MachineKeys (not very deep but couldn't be bothered loooking for a deeper one) and hide it in the properties window.

or just zip the fold up and put a password on it

nwtim · « **Reply #15 on:** November 30, 2005, 10:11 PM »

In W2K Pro, I used to just create a group called "No Access Lock" or something like it and use folder permissions to toggle whether the folder was available or not. A user would then need Admin privileges to change the file/folder permissions to make it accessible again. It was a lightweight way to control the accessibility of a folder. Unfortunately it doesn't work the same way in WinXP Pro and I've been unable to figure out a way to do it (with permissions). I think I'll give WinGuard a shot.

urlwolf · « **Reply #16 on:** April 08, 2007, 11:09 AM »

Here is a very good alternative, and it's donationware:
http://hide-folder.basisbase.com/

urlwolf · « **Reply #17 on:** April 08, 2007, 11:31 AM »

update: no NTFS support for that last one... sorry for the false alarm.

PhilB66 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 08, 2007, 02:10 PM »

Check out Hide Files and Folders and BCArchive

nosh · « **Reply #19 on:** April 08, 2007, 03:37 PM »

I have been used Magic Folders for years now. It's not free but it's a solid app.

I would love to know exactly how these folders hiding apps do what they do... I have a feeling it's got something to do with low level access and modification of the FAT but that's just my guess. Could somebody please enlighten me.

laughinglizard · « **Reply #20 on:** April 08, 2007, 05:31 PM »

I've been using LockNote for about a year now, its very easy to use.
Easy enough for anyone who can double click and/or drag and drop.
Its freeware, licensed under GPI.

http://locknote.steganos.com/

laughinglizard · « **Reply #21 on:** April 08, 2007, 05:49 PM »

Whooops, sorry about LockNote, its mostly for text files and passwords.

For folders and files Axcrypt is solid.

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

Usage is pretty simple; to encrypt files or folders just right-click them and select "encrypt." while double clicking on encrypted files lets you edit or view them with the program of your choice. Closing the open files automatically re-encrypts them.

PhilB66 · « **Reply #22 on:** April 10, 2007, 03:45 AM »

Use CLSID to secure folders in WinXP