Password protecting files on windows xp pro...

[James314]

hello all,

please excuse my ignorance, but can someone help me with the following:

1. How can I add password protection to a file? I have looked this up on the net but found instructions only to encrypt them. When I do encrypt it or decrypt it using IBM UVM encryption, I am only prompted for a password to encrypt the first time. After that I can encrypt and decrypt wihtout any passwords at all...hardly safe! Is this an IBM issue?

2. The Instructions to password protect found on the net instruct me to click on the file and then choose 'file' and then 'add password'. Problem is, there is no option to do this.

I am using Windows XP pro with NTFS.

Again, sorry if these questions sound ridiculous, its just that I want to protect sensitive files in the best way possible from possible hackers etc on the net.

thanks again,

James.

[jdhurst]

You can encrypt everything (but I don't do that and am not a source of information on this subject). But hackers have to get into your system *before* they can get to your files and/or data.

So not to change the subject, but a far better way to protect your system is to have a top notch software firewall in place along with anti-virus and spyware protection. Also, protect your overall system with hardened passwords on all userids *including* the ever-present Administrator ID. Then hackers can't get in to your system in the first place.

Don't let people fool you. The vast majority of "hackers" are script-kiddies with not much skill and the only systems they can break into are unprotected systems. I have never been hacked (ever), and in 16 years only had one virus.

... JD Hurst

[Ground Loop]

The ThinkPads have arguably the very best secure key storage and hardware encryption available in a consumer laptop.

http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/think/thinkvan ... urity.html

If you want to encrypt specific files and directories on your hard drive, the software is there to do it. If you don't trust the IBM software, check into PGP or the free version, GPG. Either of these use trusted and mature encryption software to secure your data.

The IBM hardware just makes it easier and more tamper-resistent.

[James314]

ok, thanks for the tips guys. I have a solid firewall, AV etc and so think im ok. I just wanted to know whether it was possible to add a p/w to a file but I have just realised that my firewall should prevent any reading as you say...


thanks for the help!

James.

[dsvochak]

There's a relatively simple way to password protect individual (or groups) of files:

1. Use "send to" and send the files you want to password protect to a compressed folder.
2. Use "new" to create a new compressed folder
3. Move the compressed files you want to password protect into the new compressed folder.
4. Open the new compressed folder, click "File | Add a password" and add and confirm your password.

After that, every time you want to open one of the compressed folders in the new compressed folders, you'll have to enter the password.

This works for either XP Home or Pro

[James314]

thanks, that was the kind of thing i was looking for!


James.