Encrypt and password protect individual folders?

[J Haag]

I pay my bills online and then print PDFs of the transactions and sort
them into folders. I am looking for a piece of software that will allow
me to encrypt and password protect these folders under Windows XP Pro.
Something along the the lines of encrypted disk images in Mac OS X would
be great, though it would be nice if it was more seamless (looked and
acted just like a regular folder).

I know about encrypting folders on a per account basis in windows
itself, but that really isn't what I am looking for. Something more
along the lines of http://www.everstrike.com/lock_folder.htm , but with
encryption. I don't want to have to worry about backing up the key and
fighting to get my files back if something goes wrong with my computer.
I also like the idea of the portability of a disk image.

If anyone has any suggestions, thank you in advance.

 

[Richard Urban]

Just a note here.

You don't want to be bothered with a key or fighting to gain/regain use of
your encrypted files.

I guess you want something so simple that anyone else will have little
trouble gaining use of your files also.

Use file encryption the correct way, back up your certificates and keys (to
a safe place) and your files will be virtually bullet proof.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Bob I]

Zip em and then password them.

 

[Malke]

I pay my bills online and then print PDFs of the transactions and sort
them into folders. I am looking for a piece of software that will
allow me to encrypt and password protect these folders under Windows
XP Pro. Something along the the lines of encrypted disk images in Mac
OS X would be great, though it would be nice if it was more seamless
(looked and acted just like a regular folder).

I know about encrypting folders on a per account basis in windows
itself, but that really isn't what I am looking for. Something more
along the lines of http://www.everstrike.com/lock_folder.htm , but
with encryption. I don't want to have to worry about backing up the
key and fighting to get my files back if something goes wrong with my
computer. I also like the idea of the portability of a disk image.

If anyone has any suggestions, thank you in advance.

I've never used any of these programs, but I got the links and comments
from MVP Torgeir Bakken:

SafeGuard PrivateDisk
http://www.utimaco.com/indexmain.html

(Torgeir is using their "SafeGuard Easy" product for local hard disk
encryption on all laptops, and is very satisfied with the product).

More on encryption from Torgeir: A friend of mine has tested a free
product called TrueCrypt to encrypt data on USB sticks, and he was very
satisfied.

TrueCrypt
http://www.truecrypt.org/

The BestCrypt product found at http://www.jetico.com/ also looks
interesting. Just be sure to export any encryption keys and save them
in a safe place (outside your computer).

Malke

 

[Plato]

I pay my bills online and then print PDFs of the transactions and sort
them into folders. I am looking for a piece of software that will allow

Why allow access to your checking account online? Why complicate your
life? Pay with a check or money order for best security.