Password protect a second HD

  • Thread starter Thread starter Phil
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Phil

Hi, my first request for info.....

My son is starting to make use of my PC now and while I store all the stuff
I'd rather he didnt see on a second harddrive I wonder if there is a way to
password protect it altogether?

Either pw the whole drive so that access to anything on there needs the pw
first or to pw the files/folders on there instead.....

I'm not a newbie PC user but I'm no wizard either so something really simple
that even a bloke like me could deal with would be great......is there
anything like that? I've had a look on PLW / PLWH but nothing stands out
that will do this.....maybe there isn't anything like that??

orrrrrrrr is that what 'encryption is about? (told ya I was thick at times!)

TIA
Phil
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A Journey of a thousand miles starts with but a small step......
Stay safe and be well on YOUR Journey :o)

for good Windows © Freeware -
http://www.pricelessware.org/ OR
http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/
 
If you have Windows XP or Windows 2000 you can use the encryption feature
built into the OS. If you son is going to sites that could leave behind any
type of spyware/malware, that is the best way to go.

Or, you could use a program that hides files & folders. There is the
freeware bmpPacker, but that does individual files, mostly for emails
http://www.goedeke.net/index_eng.html

Hide Files is free too, http://www.spydex.com/hidefiles.html

AKAS Hide Folders is free http://www.apihook.com/hidefolder/download.html

There are many others, but not free.
 
Phil said:
Hi, my first request for info.....

My son is starting to make use of my PC now and while I store all the stuff
I'd rather he didnt see on a second harddrive I wonder if there is a way to
password protect it altogether?

Either pw the whole drive so that access to anything on there needs the pw
first or to pw the files/folders on there instead.....

I'm not a newbie PC user but I'm no wizard either so something really simple
that even a bloke like me could deal with would be great......is there
anything like that? I've had a look on PLW / PLWH but nothing stands out
that will do this.....maybe there isn't anything like that??
Click to expand...
Format it as NTFS. Make sure that your son isn't an Administrator and
password it.
 
Hi, my first request for info.....

My son is starting to make use of my PC now and while I store all the stuff
I'd rather he didnt see on a second harddrive I wonder if there is a way to
password protect it altogether?

Either pw the whole drive so that access to anything on there needs the pw
first or to pw the files/folders on there instead.....

I'm not a newbie PC user but I'm no wizard either so something really simple
that even a bloke like me could deal with would be great......is there
anything like that? I've had a look on PLW / PLWH but nothing stands out
that will do this.....maybe there isn't anything like that??

orrrrrrrr is that what 'encryption is about? (told ya I was thick at times!)
Click to expand...
There are several options - some you've already seen from other
replies.

Some of the options depend on how tech savvy the other users of your
machine are.
For example, you could use a boot manager ( a program that takes
control of your computer when it first starts up ) which would allow
you to set the computer up to operate with different 'environments'.
For example - you have a second hard drive - so you could set up one
environment where only the first drive is visible to the user...and a
second environment where both drives are visible.
Even if the other users boot to DOS, they still wouldn't be able to
see the second drive.

A very good program for doing this is XOSL.
Better yet, it can be password protected ( either to boot the
computer, or to access the XOSL interface ) - and with a few extra
tweaks ( such a disabling booting your computer from a floppy disk in
the bios ) it can be made even more secure.

I use it myself, and in my case I run two installations of the
operating system - one for my use, the other for the kids ( so they
can trash it and not leave me stranded ).

Encryption is perhaps the most secure option - even if someone gains
access to your hard drive ( such as a burglar ), they won't be able to
read the sensitive data.

Encryption works by changing the data against a 'key'.
To simplify, say the 'key' is the number 4 and the data to be
encrypted is the letter A - and the program works by changing each
letter to the one that's, in this case, 4 letters up. Thus A becomes D
- and unless you know what the key is you'd have a hard time figuring
out what the original data was.
OK, not in this case - but the keys used by decent encryption programs
are vastly more complex.

I've been using a program called Blowfish Advanced CS for some years
now.
It's reasonably simple to use and has a lot of safety features built
in to prevent data loss through mistakes.
It's also extremely secure, and has several features that help to
automate repetitive tasks ( such as encrypting and decrypting
regularly used files or folders ).

Depends how much security you want - for home use I'm happy with the
boot manager...for work I use encryption to keep client's data secure.

Regards,
 
Phil said:
Hi, my first request for info.....

My son is starting to make use of my PC now and while I store all the stuff
I'd rather he didnt see on a second harddrive I wonder if there is a way to
password protect it altogether?

Either pw the whole drive so that access to anything on there needs the pw
first or to pw the files/folders on there instead.....
Click to expand...

Cryptext a freeware encryptor single file or whole hard drive
http://www.pcug.org.au/~njpayne/

stealth folder seems to have to gone shareware now
here is an older freeware version
http://www.geocities.com/cammonroe/file/stealthfolder.zip
 
Hi, my first request for info.....

My son is starting to make use of my PC now and while I store all the stuff
I'd rather he didnt see on a second harddrive I wonder if there is a way to
password protect it altogether?

Either pw the whole drive so that access to anything on there needs the pw
first or to pw the files/folders on there instead.....

I'm not a newbie PC user but I'm no wizard either so something really simple
that even a bloke like me could deal with would be great......is there
anything like that? I've had a look on PLW / PLWH but nothing stands out
that will do this.....maybe there isn't anything like that??

orrrrrrrr is that what 'encryption is about? (told ya I was thick at times!)
Click to expand...

For Windows 2000 or XP use Truecrypt.
http://www.truecrypt.tk/

For Windows 95, 98 or ME use Scramdisk
http://www.scramdisk.clara.net/

Both of these programs will encrypt the entire drive or partition you use.

regards

Dud
 
Duddits said:
Truecrypt url should be
http://www.freewebs.com/thinker2004/

Dud
Click to expand...
I have a dual boot system. Win98SE for the kids to use, and Win2K for
budget and other stuff that the kids don't need to see.
The Win2K OS is NTFS and 98SE is FAT32, so I can see the 98SE files
while booted into 2K, but they can not read the NTFS files. I hope
that this is not confusing.
 
Great.....thank you all for your info....lot's of options to check out

"Sheila aka Pippie"
"Conor"
" Steve H"
"carson"
"Duddits"
"JoeA"
--
Phil
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A Journey of a thousand miles starts with but a small step......
Stay safe and be well on YOUR Journey :o)

for good Windows © Freeware -
http://www.pricelessware.org/ OR
http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/
 
Phil said:
Hi, my first request for info.....

My son is starting to make use of my PC now and while I store all the stuff
I'd rather he didnt see on a second harddrive I wonder if there is a way to
password protect it altogether?
Click to expand...

I know this isn't entirely constructive, but the questions has to be
asked ..... are these hardcore spreadsheets or some equally heavyweight
form of business data ?

You hide, he will want to find.
You hide, he will, in the end, make it his business to find, to prove to
himself he can, to prove to you he can.
You hide, and in some ways you have already started the argument that is
going to result when you find he has seen it.

Why can you not explain to him that he will want private files, you
already have private files and respect each other kind of things ?

I have lots of data on my machine, and my children have access to the
lot if they wanted to search. They don't - and I'm sure part of the
reason is because I explained where I didn't want them to save files or
mess with as I need the information there. It there if they want it,
there is no secret, no challenge.

Software won't help you deal with the situation if he does break your
security.

Don't challenge him.
Ask him show respect.

P.
 
Podz said:
Software won't help you deal with the situation if he does break your
security.
Click to expand...

Then get unbreakable security.

What if the OP is hiding some of the nastier forms of porn? Or his
virus collection? Why put temptation in the way of the naturally
curious? Far easier to simply hide in such a way that others do not
know that anything is being hidden.
 
jo said:
Podz wrote:




Then get unbreakable security.

What if the OP is hiding some of the nastier forms of porn? Or his
virus collection? Why put temptation in the way of the naturally
curious? Far easier to simply hide in such a way that others do not
know that anything is being hidden.
Click to expand...

A whole drive ? :)

P.
 
Podz said:
A whole drive ? :)
Click to expand...

Fair point. In this position I doubt I would look to hide the drive,
especially a physically separate one. I would put loads of anodyne
nonsense on it and hide sensitive stuff amongst it.
 
Encryption works by changing the data against a 'key'.
To simplify, say the 'key' is the number 4 and the data to be
encrypted is the letter A - and the program works by changing each
letter to the one that's, in this case, 4 letters up. Thus A becomes D
- and unless you know what the key is you'd have a hard time figuring
out what the original data was.
Click to expand...

Some low level encryption works this way.
OK, not in this case - but the keys used by decent encryption programs
are vastly more complex.
Click to expand...

Correct; vastly. And many use no keys at all.
 
Phil said:
Hi, my first request for info.....

My son is starting to make use of my PC now and while I store all the stuff
I'd rather he didnt see on a second harddrive I wonder if there is a way to
password protect it altogether?

Either pw the whole drive so that access to anything on there needs the pw
first or to pw the files/folders on there instead.....

I'm not a newbie PC user but I'm no wizard either so something really simple
that even a bloke like me could deal with would be great......is there
anything like that? I've had a look on PLW / PLWH but nothing stands out
that will do this.....maybe there isn't anything like that??

orrrrrrrr is that what 'encryption is about? (told ya I was thick at times!)

TIA
Phil
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A Journey of a thousand miles starts with but a small step......
Stay safe and be well on YOUR Journey :o)

for good Windows © Freeware -
http://www.pricelessware.org/ OR
http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/
Click to expand...



Another here .

LockTight
http://www.welshware.co.uk/\Welshware/locktight.asp
PROTECT YOUR DATA FROM PRYING-EYES

LockTight FREEWARE Security System for Windows95/98/ME/NT4/Win2000 and
XP.

You cannot purchase or sell LockTight - it is FREEWARE.
Create your own scripts or base-key, based on thousands of Engine and
Key Combinations to create unlockable data-files.
There are no nags/timeouts/adverts/limited features or anything other
than FULL-ACCESS to ALL
engines and features with no requirement to purchase (although a
donation would be nice ;)

Lock any type of Document.

Encrypt/Decrypt any/some/all files within a directory and their
sub-directories if required.

Lock Anything.
 
You may want to get a removable hard drive or an external hard drive.
Then just lock it in a file cabinet when done. This is also good for
backup, if someone steals your puter, you still have your info.
 
On Thu, 15 Jul 2004 09:53:32 GMT, "Phil"

I'm not a newbie PC user but I'm no wizard either so something really simple
that even a bloke like me could deal with would be great
Click to expand...

< snip >

Then don't bother. I suggest you consider making your second hard
drive a removable one. Getting a computer shop to install a hard drive
tray should be quick/easy/inexpensive.

Regards, John.

--
****************************************************
,-._|\ (A.C.F FAQ) http://clients.net2000.com.au/~johnf/faq.html
/ Oz \ John Fitzsimons - Melbourne, Australia.
\_,--.x/ http://www.vicnet.net.au/~johnf/welcome.htm
v http://clients.net2000.com.au/~johnf/
 
this thread is applicable to a problem a friend of mine is trying to solve.
He too wants to hide a whole drive (a physically separate one) from his
kids, giving them their own log-ins. The drive has business and personal
information and files that he doesnt' want screwed with and also his porn
collection (he runs a web site).
Why hide it from the kids? they are 9 and 4. They aren't going to be
digging to look for things that are hidden from them. If they cant' see it,
they don't know it's there. These aren't teenage hackers, they're just
'kids". the one wants to be able to play the Sims from her account, the
other is barely able to figure out sesame street, much less anything else.
Did it occur to anyone that maybe this "son" is a toddler or other young
person, and not a teenager?
Anyhow, thanks for the suggestions, I'll pass it on to Jim. you guys know
your stuff.
btina
 
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