Hiding and protecting folders

  • Thread starter Thread starter J44xm
  • Start date Start date
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J44xm

I can't seem to locate any freeware utilities to hide and protect folders
(without having to encrypt them). Any recommendations?
 
I can't seem to locate any freeware utilities to hide and protect folders
(without having to encrypt them). Any recommendations?
Click to expand...

Hide Files is freeware security program to hide any number of files or
folders.

You have any files or programs that you don't want to share with other
or they contain financial and tax information, passwords, personal
letters and emails, private images, and other confidential or personal
data. But typically, computer files and folders have not security
protection so the best way to protect them is to make files or folders
invisible for another's eyes. Hide Files makes hidden any files and
folders (or whole program folder or even all computer disks).

Hide Files allows you to select any folders (and sub folders with files)
of your choice to protect as hidden files and folders. You can select
any folders on your computer or drag-and-drop the desired folders from
Windows Explorer into the Hide Files window. In one mouse click the
folders selected become invisible. Once files or folders are hidden, it
is impossible to find them, or access and remove any file. Unhiding
files or folders is as easy as hiding them - just one mouse click and
they are visible and accessible to you again. If program folder or whole
disks are hidden, itself program or Windows will continue to work
normally.

Hide Files is protected by a password and hotkey that you can change or
remove at any time. You can use this security features to protect Hide
Files from unauthorized start.

Hide Files features:
- Any number of files and folders may be hidden at the same time.
- No one but you can access your hidden files or folders.
- Program does not modify file system structure.
- Hotkey and password protection for program start.
- Stealth Mode - program itself can be hidden.
- Hide Files will hide any folders including Windows, Windows System
folders and Windows partition root folders without damage of
operational system itself (i.e. your computer will continue to work
normally).
- Provides a high level of information security.
- Intuitive and easy-to-use user interface.
- Full Windows platforms compatibility.
- NTFS, FAT32 and FAT file systems are supported.

http://web.archive.org/web/20030212134117/www.spydex.com/hidefiles.html

Download:

http://junk.atechsite.com/Office_utilities/hidefiles.zip
 
Mel said:
http://www.fspro.net/hf/index.html
Click to expand...

A some extracts from the FAQ:

When I boot my PC from floppy my hidden folders appear. Why?

The folders appear because Hide Folders XP hides them only when it is
loaded.
--
I heard that some applications can hide folders in realty and the
folders will be hidden in DOS session as well. Why don't you implement a
similar feature?

This feature requires meddling into file system. Running such low-level
utilities like Norton Disk Doctor, Scandisk, etc. may damage hidden
folders in this case.
--
Your Hide Folders Pro for Windows 9x has a free version. Do you have a
free version of Hide Folders XP?

Unfortunately Hide Folders XP is shareware and does not have a free
version. But you have 30-days free trial period to make sure that you
need or don't need this software.
 
A some extracts from the FAQ:

When I boot my PC from floppy my hidden folders appear. Why?

The folders appear because Hide Folders XP hides them only when it is
loaded.
--
I heard that some applications can hide folders in realty and the
folders will be hidden in DOS session as well. Why don't you implement a
similar feature?

This feature requires meddling into file system. Running such low-level
utilities like Norton Disk Doctor, Scandisk, etc. may damage hidden
folders in this case.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry but I cannot agree with this last paragraph. There is no
reason why hidden folders, whether encrypted or not should be damaged
by Norton Disk Doctor, Scandisk or any disk repair software. Damage
would have occurred before that use if it seems to be incurred.
 
"Unfortunately Hide Folders XP is shareware and does not have a free
version. But you have 30-days free trial period to make sure that you
need or don't need this software."
Click to expand...

Thanks, Michael, for pointing this out. I'm looking for freeware, of course.
 
If all you want to do is merely hide them, why not just do it by
altering the folder settings in the OS itlself?

Any app that would hide folders, essentially would just adjust the
folder attributes.

The only other alternative is encryption.
 
["Mel"; Sun, 17 Jul 2005 20:10:11 GMT]
Didn't download the last freeware version did ya!
Click to expand...

Indeed, I didn't. I didn't realize that's what the ZIP was. I'll check it
out. Thanks!
 
[""; Sun, 17 Jul 2005 20:20:25 GMT]
Any app that would hide folders, essentially would just adjust the
folder attributes.
Click to expand...

I currently have my system set to show everything, including hidden and
system files. What other types of modifications are there?
 
See if any of these suit.

Parents Friend
http://www.parents-friend.de/index1.htm
Does someone constantly adjust your PC settings? - those days are gone
Do your children look at pornographic web pages? - those days are gone
Is your business PC abused for private use? - those days are gone
Or don´t you know what happens on your PC ? - those days are gone
too!!!

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

Winguard Pro 2005 Free Edition
http://www.winguardpro.com/products.html
http://sixfiles.com/dbase/files/wg-soft-winguard-pro-2005-free-edition.html#
With WinGuard Pro 2005 you can password protect your programs,
windows and web pages in one easy to use program. It lets you lock
features of your system so that nobody can use them while you are
away. The program lets you specify a password and then choose from a
variety of options - what features to lock, for example, the find
tool, backing up, desktop, etc. All the options are listed within
one window and they are self-explaining, so there is no need to wade
your way through dozens of sub-folders and weird registry key values.

What's more, there is also encryption for your personal files and
folders. It offers an all-in-one security solution for your
computer. With extra features to lock the desktop, boot keys, task
keys, blocking software installations and internet access.

WinGuard Pro 2005 comes in a Free and Premium edition. You have the
option to upgrade to Premium if you desire at a later date.
Platform: Win95,Win98,WinME,WinXP,WinNT 4.x,Windows2000,Windows2003

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

Lock IT Down: Secure your desktops with Windows' Group Policy Editor
http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-6270-1059493.html

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

Very good site for registry tweaks.
http://www.winguides.com/registry/
http://www.winguides.com/registry/category.php/4/

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

Restrict Users from Running Specific Applications
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_logon.htm
http://www3.sympatico.ca/computech911/regtweaks.html

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

The "Windows XP Security Console" - by Doug Knox, MVP
http://www.legge40.freeserve.co.uk/Tips.htm#activepc
"When you're outside of a domain environment, XP has some features
missing. XP Home leaves you completely without the Group Policy
Editor, while XP Pro lacks the ability to use the Group Policy
Editor to selectively apply policies to specific users. Well, that's
about to change. Doug's Windows XP Security Console allows you to
assign various restrictions to specific users, whether you're
running XP Pro or XP Home." -

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_securityconsole.htm

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

FOFF
http://www.all4you.dk/FreewareWorld/links.php?page=4&cat=006
http://www.ally.ru/downloads.phtml?id=1&page=3
This software was developed to protect Windows operation system on
public computers from starting unregistred executable files.
The program register all present system software. After that no one
another unregistred program will be executed.
You can change an access password of this program by you [...]

* Posted via http://www.sixfiles.com/forum
* Please report abuse to http://xinbox.com/sixfiles
 
["jmatt"; Mon, 18 Jul 2005 01:44:37 GMT]
See if any of these suit.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the links. On first glance, Winguard has a lock-folder feature,
but it seems similar to Folder Access{*}, which appears to work in the same
manner (i.e., disguising folders as a Control Panel folder). This method
seems to work well, though it's fairly obviously locked and not hidden. (I'm
just looking to hide the folders for the few times friends might use my
laptop for whatever reason, see.) Still, not a bad choice.

{*} http://www.topdownloads.net/software/view.php?id=11463
 
J44xm said:
(I'm
just looking to hide the folders for the few times friends might use my
laptop for whatever reason, see.)
Click to expand...

In that case, if you are using Microsoft Windows, you can simply make
the folders hidden (in folder Properties), and set Windows to display
hidden folders normally (My Computer, Tools, Folder Options, View in
WinXP, may be slightly different in other versions). Before others use
your computer, set it not to display hidden folders. You may find you
can work OK even with the folders left hidden.

Obviously this is easy to get round by anyone who suspects that there
are hidden folders and knows what to do.

HTH,
 
["Michael Salem"; Tue, 19 Jul 2005 07:55:50 GMT]
In that case, if you are using Microsoft Windows, you can simply make
the folders hidden (in folder Properties), and set Windows to display
hidden folders normally
Click to expand...

Thanks for replying. That's really a bit of trouble to go through. I tried
the trial of Hide Folders XP and it was as simple as selecting on the Hide
and Protect function. (I should have mentioned that I seek access-protection
as well.) It worked very well for casual use. Hide Files was more stealthy
and worked about as well. I'm just surprised that there's nothing on the
freeware circuit like this, that hides and protects. (I'm not talking about
snooping about, here. Just enough to keep acquaintances from seeing certain
data.)
 
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