help with folder protection on computer

Ollieda

Hi,

If anyone out there is good with computers please help.

I have an external harddrive which I carry round with me to transport files when needed, however some of the files on here are quite sensative. Is it possible to encrypt / password protect these files?

I know I can do it on my computer by only allowing my user account to access them. However this is a portable device so I might need to access the files on different computers.

Is it possible to protect it?

Heckler1974

Yes, but how sensitive are they and what sort of files are they?

Word, Excel etc all offer password protection out of the box but the password protection is pretty limited (i.e. the files are not encrypted merely won't open without the password). Also this is easy to break using a variety of brute force crackers (they don't 'lock' so just keep returning 'Wrong password' until the right one after how ever many tens of thousands of tries.

Alternatively you could explore a folder/hard drive encryption bit of software. Plenty on the market and not expensive they actually encrypt (and can hide) files folders or whole drives. Safer if you lose your hard drive, your data is safe from prying eyes (the average script kiddie hacker won't have the neccessary decryption hacking tools).

Just be aware that under a new law the use of encryption requires the user if requested to supply the Police (or other government body) with the passwords to de-encrypt the data, failure to do so (and pretending to forget or if you have actually forgotten doesn't wash) is an offense in itself.

Ollieda

It's mainly word documents but some of it is pictures and videos of layouts and projects. I'm not looking for high level protection so something that literally just needs a password is fine.

It's just so that if I went and left it in the library or something and another student picked it up they might be tempted to have a look and maybe copy some stuff. I just want something so that if they try to open it and see it needs a password they would give up...there's not many "hacker" minded students at my uni and a simple password request would stop them.

Heckler1974

Again there are (non-microsoft) bits of software that will password protect folders, the problem being that you'd need the software on any pcs you plug it into.

Some more expensive usb sticks (not sure if it extends to usb drives) come with their own built in encryption/password, that will travel with the stick so might be a better bet.

Alternatively, don't lose your USB drive....

zanes

http://www.truecrypt.org/

Although sounds like it could be overkill here. :oops:

Oddjob62

zanes wrote:

http://www.truecrypt.org/

Although sounds like it could be overkill here. :oops:

Agreed. Very good free product.

helloworld

You can install Folder Password Expert USB on your external hard drive and encrypt the folders where you store your sensitive files. You can download the program from
http://www.folder-password-expert.com/usb.html

Daisyfighting

Hi,
a simple guide to encrypt external hard drive
http://www.disk-utilities.com/articles/ ... rives.html

Ollieda

helloworld and Daisyfighting, welcome to the forum and it's so nice that both of your first posts are helping me, and conveniently sending me to the same website.

Now the cynic in me is just considering how much of commission you'll get if I were to buy it and ignore the free product!

Heckler1974

Ollieda wrote:

Now the cynic in me is just considering how much of commission you'll get if I were to buy it and ignore the free product!

I'd be more concerned about viral content that these two first time posters may want to share with you.......

GiantMike

My external hard-drive was stolen from my hotel room. They left the camera, bike, passport and cash. Just took the hard drive.

I imagine they were very disappointed when they explored it's benigh contents!

Daisyfighting

Heckler1974 wrote:

Ollieda wrote:

Now the cynic in me is just considering how much of commission you'll get if I were to buy it and ignore the free product!

I'd be more concerned about viral content that these two first time posters may want to share with you.......

commission? I :shock:

Ollieda

Daisyfighting wrote:

Heckler1974 wrote:

Ollieda wrote:

Now the cynic in me is just considering how much of commission you'll get if I were to buy it and ignore the free product!

I'd be more concerned about viral content that these two first time posters may want to share with you.......

commission? I :shock:

Short messages left by people who have just signed up to a forum both giving different web addresses that lead to the same site what is basically an advert for a product that you have to pay for......sounds exactly like affiliate marketing.

I do apologise if you're not an affiliate marketer and I've got it wrong, although if you're not then maybe you should consider it as you've got the basic skills already!

GiantMike

VirtualCyclist

You could try something like this:
http://www.trustedreviews.com/storage/r ... d-Drive/p1

I've no personal experience of it, and it is quite pricey. The following is the direct link to Lenovo UK site.

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/cont ... DE766436B4

ricardo666

You could try this website

I work at the local university, looking after the computers in the undergrad labs, and getting the students to look after their data, backing it up etc is always ignored until something goes wrong, then your their best mate,when theyve lost it the day before handing in an assignment.

http://download.cnet.com/windows/encryp ... p=30&sort=

ricardo666

Also had a look in windows 7 which we have only just started using.

As the university are rolling it out in time for when the students return in september

Have a look at the bitlocker feature !

Kelvo

I use Safehouse - http://www.safehousesoftware.com/SafeHouseExplorer.aspx

This version is 100% FREE