Best way to encrypt my files and folders
Hi Mavrick,
There are plenty of good tools you can use to put password to your files and folders. However, aside from third party software, Windows has its own ability to secure your files, so you don’t have to buy any software.
Here are top picks on third party software for securing your files and folders. Also, as mentioned above, I’ll show you how to protect your files using in your Microsoft Windows PC.
1. Folder Lock – This software can lock, encrypt, shred your files and folders. It can also monitor infiltration attempts, cleans history and can hide itself so that it won’t be known to others that you have this software installed. You can choose to use a 256-bit AES encryption or its own encryption algorithm, allowing for maximum security.
http://www.newsoftwares.net/folderlock/
2. Universal Shield 4.4 by Everstrike Software – One of the many third party tools for protection. This tool can hide (stealth mode), password-protect, set permissions for your files, folders, drives, start-up programs, uninstall, and other data from local users of your PC (including the Administrator), the network and the Internet even in Safe Mode. It also has automatic protection for when the computer becomes idle.
http://www.everstrike.com/shield.htm
3. Secure Folder – Is another tool for password-protecting and hiding folders. It integrates with Windows Shell enabling users to have a quick and easy way to lock their folders with a few clicks. One of the nice features of this tool is that the Lock/Unlock option is included in the right-click menu. This tool can be used in Windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows Vista.
https://sites.google.com/site/securefolders/
4. Lock Folder XP – Another third party security tool which will not just do what it says it will, but will do the same with drives and other data. Moreover, it can also protect it from malicious software such as Trojans, worms and viruses.
5. Folder Guard – Is a simple, easy to use utility that lets you modify the user access to files, folders and removable drives, as well as various components of Windows such as Control Panel, Start Menu, Run, Taskbar, etc. It also has stealth mode and easy recovery of files in case of emergency.
http://www.winability.com/folderguard/
6. Pismo Private Folder– A simple utility which lets you create a password protected folder called Private Folder where you can, of course, put all the files you want to keep private. With this tool, you can set user access and access privilege.
http://pismotec.com/pfo/
7. Windows 7 and Windows Vista – If you’re the Administrator, you can which users can see or use a folder.
-
Right-click on the folder you want to limit access to and select Properties.
-
Go to the Security tab, and hit Edit (pops up a new window)
-
Under “Group and User Names”, add or remove the user(s) you want
-
Under “Permissions for Users”, Allow or Deny what kind of privilege you want the users under “Group and User Names” to have.
-
Click Apply, then OK.
-
A window will appear confirming your setting.
8. Windows XP Pro – For XP Pro, there is an option of encrypting the file or folder. Encryption is transforming data into codes wherein only the authorized person can understand or Decrypt. A good example is Morse code where each letter has its equivalent combination of beeps. In many ways, this is like a password too.
-
Right-click the folder would like to encrypt and select Properties.
-
Hit “Advanced”
-
Put a check on “Encrypt contents to secure data”
-
Click Apply, then OK.
9. Windows XP Home Edition – In XP Home, for this security option to work, the hard disk drive must be formatted in NTFS. Also, this can only be done on a folder and it must be in your own username folder. (C:Documents and SettingsYourUsername)
-
Right-click the folder would like to encrypt and select Properties.
-
Click the Sharing tab.
-
Put a check on “Make this folder private”
-
Click Apply, then OK.
10. TweakUI – Is one of the third party applications that can be used to customize settings on your PC without going through manual changes in the registry and other system locations.
Windows XP Home – If you are using XP Home, you will notice that the “Encrypt contents to secure data” is greyed out. TweakUI lets you see and use that option.
-
Open TweakUI and select Explorer
-
Under Settings, look for “Show 'Encrypt' on context menu and check the box” on the right hand side of the TweakUI window.
-
If you don’t see that option, then get the latest TweakUI
I hope these tips have helped you in keeping your data secured. Good luck!
