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Hide files?

1162 Views 14 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  Resolution
Does any one know of a program that is free and can hide files and/or folders? (I know about the windows hide funtion, and i do not want to use that).
-blitze
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there's a program out there called folder guard pro.
Thank you both! I'll try them out. Again thanx a million
-blitze
The first kinda confused me (i think, i twas a loong time ago though) and the others aren't free.. any one else know?
-blitze
Frankly, I find that encripting your sensitive files is a more effecitve security paragdime than merely "hiding" files.
But...
If you want to hide files, just make a XP Pro (sp2) login that has full Admin privilages, and then when Windows asks if you want to make your folders "private", answer afirmitiavely. This will make a C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\ and all it's subfolders unaccesable to users without the apropriate access privilages. You can ONLY do this on systems that are running XP Pro, NOT XP HOME!

Also, if you turn off "Simple File Sharing" you can restrict access to nearly any file or folder you specify.
To do this, open Windows Explorer (Start>Programs>Acessories>Windows Explorer or just Start>Run>Explorer)
Then find the folder you want to make "Private" and right-click on it. Select Properties from the context menu. You'll see a Properties menu for the folder you right clicked on (*Note that some special folders, namely the Recycle Bin, do not allow you to set privacy settings this way.) Click the Security tab and then the Advanced button. Now (if you have the proper Admin privilages) you can specify which user groups can have access to the folder or file. You can also specify if the changes you've made apply to subfolders as well.

Be carefull when you do this becase if make a mistake, you could potentialy lock yourself out of your own computer! To avoid doing that, don't do stupid things like locking yourself out of your own Admin group. That would be what we techs call "A Bad Thing" :grin:
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Well the thing is, there are passwords on my computer... but i am a perfectionist kind of person. I don't want the person to go to start -> search and find all the files i was trying to hide. The only program i really liked is called file lock but it costs money.. and im just not the kind of person to pay for a bunch of 1s and 0s.

Thanks...
-blitze
Blitze105 said:
Well the thing is, there are passwords on my computer... but i am a perfectionist kind of person. I don't want the person to go to start -> search and find all the files i was trying to hide. The only program i really liked is called file lock but it costs money.. and im just not the kind of person to pay for a bunch of 1s and 0s.

Thanks...
-blitze
There's not really a way to hide a file. That's just clever marketing bullsh*t. Anyone who actualy knows what he's doing can uncover so-called "locked" or "hidden" files in about five minutes. What you're buying when you buy this sort of software is a false sense of security, and little else. Why do I say this? Becasue I know that forensic tools exist that can read any file off any hard drive, no matter how it was hidden. Don't go thinking that you've actualy hidden anything this way: It's all still actualy on the disk, and I can see it if I'm looking for it.

The only real way to secure sensitive data is to encript it, and unless you want your security to be worthless you better learn how it's done.
If you're serious about securing your files, go read the following PDF:
http://www.zabalaza.net/pgp/pgp4dummies.pdf
Good luck.
I am not paying for it, as i stated in the original post. "false sense of security" no it is a true one, i am not trying to hide from hackers and what not. I want it to be hidden from the nosier ppl in my house. There are obviously programs that can find ANY file, it is nothing special to have knowledge of them... Don't take this as a flame.. but you kind of missed the point to my thread...
-blitze
Why don't you just save the files to a floppy/cd/USB drive and not to the computer?
The idea was to save it to my floppy drive, invisible, password locked, and with a program hider.
-blitze

PS
...i'm over cautious
Ever hear of the phrase "security through obsecurity"? It more or less means "if something can't be seen, then it is safe". Microsoft has made a living off of this ridiculous (highly vulnerable) concept, and it has sadly worn off on the average Windows user.

Blitze105 said:
i am not trying to hide from hackers and what not. I want it to be hidden from the nosier ppl in my house.
What makes them any different than hackers if they are snooping through your personal belongings? You have the wrong impression of a hacker if you think they are all out to destroy things. Most people who break into systems are merely just curious snoops like the same people you referred to.

You posted in the Windows XP forum. Well, here is a thought....create your own passworded account! At least this way you wouldn't need to hide whatever it is that you are trying to keep hidden. If for some odd reason you don't want to create your own account, then encryption would be the next best alternative action.

If you don't want to follow people's advice here, then just say so and mark the thread as "resolved".
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Resolution said:
If you don't want to follow people's advice here, then just say so and mark the thread as "resolved".
I asked for a different piece of advice than what i am getting, which is fine every one is trying to help i am not trying to be rude. Why does every one take what i say so badly??? I am trying not to be rude...

"what a hacker is" hackers are builders i know, but what i meant was i am more worried about people that are nosy around here.
-blitze
So I assume that at this moment you are creating your own passworded account, right?
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