Password protect a file or hard drive?

MovingTarget · 10-12-2007, 05:44 PM

I have my main PC with XP on it and its a nice setup (thanks again Dan [who isn't talking to me anymore...]) and I have not only my login but 4 others (for my nieces and nephew and my brother). There have been weird little glitches since then and I am not sure what to make of it...

I was going to put everything into just my login and remove theirs completely...

The problem is that I have some things that I don't want anyone else to see....

Is there a way to keep anyone from seeing whats in the folder unless they type a password?....like the folder is there - but when they click on it or try to open it they have to type a password...

I thought about putting it all on a removable drive or on a USB thumb drive, but if I can just keep them from getting into it then I wouldn't have to..... I use some of the files very frequently too....

Phant0m51 · 10-12-2007, 06:15 PM

You could always use Winrar or Winzip and package them with a password. Winrar will let you open files inside of a zipped/rar'ed file, not sure if winzip does.

Wedge_ · 10-12-2007, 07:44 PM

You could try TrueCrypt, you can create an encrypted virtual drive with your private data on it, and remember to unmount it when you're not using it. You can also set it to unmount automatically after x minutes of inactivity. Alternatively you can encrypt a whole drive or partition (or a USB key) but the first idea might be easier in your case.

MovingTarget · 10-12-2007, 08:05 PM

Nice - I like the TrueCrypt....have you used it?......

EDIT:

how would that work on a USB flash drive?....does it walk you through he steps?

Wedge_ · 10-13-2007, 07:51 AM

I use it on a USB drive, it works quite well. There are two options you have as listed in the FAQ. Either you can encrypt the whole thing as a TrueCrypt volume, or you can create a normal file on the drive containing the encrypted volume.

The only real difference between them is that with the first option, you need to have TrueCrypt installed on any machine you want to use the USB drive with, while the second option allows you to store TrueCrypt on the drive along with the encrypted file, and run it from there. I use the whole-drive encryption since I only need to work with a few machines. If anyone finds the drive and plugs it into a Windows box, it just appears as an unformatted filesystem.

MSP · 10-13-2007, 08:50 PM

Why isn't Dan talking to you?

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10-12-2007, 05:44 PM	permanent link to #1
MovingTarget Uber Noob Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,647 (#58 ) My photos: 67 Thanked 2x in 2 posts	I have my main PC with XP on it and its a nice setup (thanks again Dan [who isn't talking to me anymore...]) and I have not only my login but 4 others (for my nieces and nephew and my brother). There have been weird little glitches since then and I am not sure what to make of it... I was going to put everything into just my login and remove theirs completely... The problem is that I have some things that I don't want anyone else to see.... Is there a way to keep anyone from seeing whats in the folder unless they type a password?....like the folder is there - but when they click on it or try to open it they have to type a password... I thought about putting it all on a removable drive or on a USB thumb drive, but if I can just keep them from getting into it then I wouldn't have to..... I use some of the files very frequently too....
	"I know a way to keep that dawg in...........no weights , no patch boards, but it does involve rubber insulators and 15 amps. He'd only try it once." ~ MistaWiskas 9.16.2008

Yesterday, 05:30 PM	#2
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10-12-2007, 06:15 PM	permanent link to #2
Phant0m51 From Utah, NOT mormon Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Utah, USA Posts: 1,234 (#77 ) My photos: 18 Thanked 1x in one post	You could always use Winrar or Winzip and package them with a password. Winrar will let you open files inside of a zipped/rar'ed file, not sure if winzip does.
	"We both got fucked over on that part and not in the rememberable go brag to your friends way, no, no, this is the you cry tears and try to pretend you are someplace else sodomy type." -Joe "Women are odd like that... one day they confess to love you, the next day you wake up to a beep beep beep sound of a garbage truck backing up and picking up the garbage can she put you in." - Joe

10-12-2007, 07:44 PM	permanent link to #3
Wedge_ Rogue One Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Scotland Posts: 1,015 (#87 ) My photos: 33 Thanked 0x in 0 posts	You could try TrueCrypt, you can create an encrypted virtual drive with your private data on it, and remember to unmount it when you're not using it. You can also set it to unmount automatically after x minutes of inactivity. Alternatively you can encrypt a whole drive or partition (or a USB key) but the first idea might be easier in your case.
	Per Ardua Ad Astra

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10-12-2007, 08:05 PM	permanent link to #4
MovingTarget Uber Noob Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,647 (#58 ) My photos: 67 Thanked 2x in 2 posts	Nice - I like the TrueCrypt....have you used it?...... EDIT: how would that work on a USB flash drive?....does it walk you through he steps? Last edited by MovingTarget; 10-12-2007 at 08:06 PM.. Reason: forgot to add something....
	"I know a way to keep that dawg in...........no weights , no patch boards, but it does involve rubber insulators and 15 amps. He'd only try it once." ~ MistaWiskas 9.16.2008

10-13-2007, 07:51 AM	permanent link to #5
Wedge_ Rogue One Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Scotland Posts: 1,015 (#87 ) My photos: 33 Thanked 0x in 0 posts	I use it on a USB drive, it works quite well. There are two options you have as listed in the FAQ. Either you can encrypt the whole thing as a TrueCrypt volume, or you can create a normal file on the drive containing the encrypted volume. The only real difference between them is that with the first option, you need to have TrueCrypt installed on any machine you want to use the USB drive with, while the second option allows you to store TrueCrypt on the drive along with the encrypted file, and run it from there. I use the whole-drive encryption since I only need to work with a few machines. If anyone finds the drive and plugs it into a Windows box, it just appears as an unformatted filesystem.
	Per Ardua Ad Astra

10-13-2007, 08:50 PM	permanent link to #6
MSP Globe Trekker Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,664 (#1 ) My photos: 127 Thanked 10x in 10 posts	Why isn't Dan talking to you?

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