Password

[Jerry MAY]

Hi,

How can I protect a folder or drive with a password with Vista Ultimate ?

Regards,

Jerry

 

[Andrew McLaren]

How can I protect a folder or drive with a password with Vista Ultimate ?

Hi Jerry,

You can't.

It sounds like you're thinking of the "password-protected share" feature,
found in Windows 95 etc? That feature does not exist in Vista, or in any
version of Windows NT (including Windows 2000, XP and Server 2003). There
were 2 aspects to this:

- Windows 9x etc did not have any true security mechanisms, so the "password
protected share" was a quick and dirty way to provide some level of security
for those systems. Windows NT (incl Vista) have heavy-duty,
industrial-strength file security built-in, so it doesn't need these
stop-gap measures to enforce security; NTFS ACLs provide far greater
flexibility and relaibility.

- the specific algorithms and security mechanisms used for
password-protected shares were not very secure; they would foil a casual
intruder but were usefless against any determined assault. Since the created
a false illusion of security, it was deemed better not to have them at all
on platforms which did not require them.

In a default installation of Vista on NTFS, only the Administrator can see
files in other users' directories. To keep your own data safe, it only
requires that (a) you are a local administrator; (b) there are no other
local administrators and (c) your data is kept under your own User home
directory.

To share data among a limited set of users, create a local Windows Group,
using Administrative Tools, Computer Management, Users and Groups. Then
create a home directory for the group, and assign the appropriate
permissions; see

Controlling access to your files and folders
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/c5c0adf4-d15f-4218-ac3d-6808cac6f3931033.mspx

In Vista, you can also apply strong encryption to an entire disk, using the
BitLocker feature:
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/6035e2fd-ee50-4b74-9bfb-6c27bb6bf2201033.mspx

This is another way to prevent unauthorised access to your data. This will
keep your data secure, even if the laptop or hard disk is stolen.

Hope it helps,

 

[Peter Foldes]

Jerry

You did a masterful job on multiposting this. It has also been answered in the other groups where you also posted (5 other groups.

Next time crosspost instead of multipost if needed

http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm

 

[DanR]

For about a week MS offered an app named "Private Folder" for XP.
http://news.com.com/Microsoft+hands+out+private+folders/2100-1012_3-6092153.html
filename:
MSPF10ENU.msi
Very quickly MS removed it from its site due to IT complaints.
http://news.com.com/Microsoft+shutters+Windows+private+folders/2100-1012_3-6094481.html
The file is likely floating around but don't know about Vista compatibility.
I have it but never installed it.

 

[Saucy]

Hi,

How can I protect a folder or drive with a password with Vista Ultimate ?

Regards,

Jerry

In a round about way. You protect it with your account. So if you want a
folder and its contents to remain private, encrypt it while in *your*
account. When people log on to *their* accounts on the same machine they
will not be able to access the folder. Anyone who logs onto your account
will be able to gain access to the folder and its contents, so password
portect your account and keep the password secret.

Saucy

 

[Saucy]

In a round about way. You protect it with your account. So if you want a
folder and its contents to remain private, encrypt it while in *your*
account. When people log on to *their* accounts on the same machine they
will not be able to access the folder. Anyone who logs onto your account
will be able to gain access to the folder and its contents, so password
portect your account and keep the password secret.

Saucy

P.S. They other accounts will be able to "see" the folder and the names and
types of files within it, but when they go to read an encrypted file it will
be unreadable. By default, Vista displayes encrypted files with a green
coloured font.

Saucy