Password Protection

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Guest

Does anyone know a way to password-protect an entire folder in Explorer, as
opposed to single files in Word or other programs? I'd suggest that if there
is no way, there should be a way, and I'd hope MS might consider programming
in the ability. But maybe there is way, if anyone knows. Thanks,

(Running XP Pro here.)
 
One cannot password-protect a folder in Windows XP.
For a more secure method, see the following:

HOW TO: Set the My Documents Folder as "Private" in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;298399

You Cannot Select the "Make This Folder Private" Option
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307286

How to set, view, change, or remove special permissions for files
and folders in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308419

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Does anyone know a way to password-protect an entire folder in Explorer, as
| opposed to single files in Word or other programs? I'd suggest that if there
| is no way, there should be a way, and I'd hope MS might consider programming
| in the ability. But maybe there is way, if anyone knows. Thanks,
|
| (Running XP Pro here.)
|
| --
| Frank88
 
Frank88 said:
Does anyone know a way to password-protect an entire folder in Explorer, as
opposed to single files in Word or other programs? I'd suggest that if there
is no way, there should be a way, and I'd hope MS might consider programming
in the ability. But maybe there is way, if anyone knows. Thanks,

(Running XP Pro here.)
Click to expand...


Like Win2K, WinXP's file security paradigm doesn't rely on, or
allow, the cumbersome method of password protection for individual
applications, files, or folders. Instead, it uses the superior method
of explicitly assigning file/folder permissions to individual users
and/or groups.

HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;279783

HOW TO Set, View, Change, or Remove File and Folder Permissions
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q308418

HOW TO Set, View, Change, or Remove Special Permissions for Files and
Folders
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];Q308419

HOW TO Set the My Documents Folder as Private in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;298399

Of course, if you have WinXP Pro, you can encrypt the desired
files/folders.

Best Practices for Encrypting File System
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;223316

As a crude work-around, you can place the file in a compressed
folder, and set a password to uncompress the folder to view/access its
contents. Also, some applications allow the user to password-protect
their specific data files. Read the specific application's Help files
for further information on this capability.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 
All that is fine, but only when not logged in, whether as given user, or
possibly even as admin, though I'm not certain about the latter. I notice
that logged in as admin allows me to view anything of any user's, but perhaps
rights can somehow be granted only to a specific user, excluding admin--seems
doubtful. I have to look into that. Otherwise, if I remain logged in--to my
own computer--then all files (not otherwise password protected) are visible
to anyone who sits down here. So long as I'm careful to log out, none of it
matters, but should I be interrupted suddenly, before logging out, then all
is visible to anyone who happens by. I'm simply suggesting that MS offer a
means via WK2 or XP, or any other Windows platform, to password protect any
folder one one user likes, such that the folder is ONLY available when that
folder is OPEN, and not otherwise. I'm simply suggesting an added security
measure. Certainly, there's nothing more "cumbersome" about my idea than
scrolling through lists assigning different rights to different users, even
if that did solve the problem, which it doesn't, because it doesn't address a
scenario such as the one I've just described. Thanks for your input.

Frank



Bruce Chambers said:
Frank88 said:
Does anyone know a way to password-protect an entire folder in Explorer, as
opposed to single files in Word or other programs? I'd suggest that if there
is no way, there should be a way, and I'd hope MS might consider programming
in the ability. But maybe there is way, if anyone knows. Thanks,

(Running XP Pro here.)
Click to expand...


Like Win2K, WinXP's file security paradigm doesn't rely on, or
allow, the cumbersome method of password protection for individual
applications, files, or folders. Instead, it uses the superior method
of explicitly assigning file/folder permissions to individual users
and/or groups.

HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;279783

HOW TO Set, View, Change, or Remove File and Folder Permissions
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q308418

HOW TO Set, View, Change, or Remove Special Permissions for Files and
Folders
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];Q308419

HOW TO Set the My Documents Folder as Private in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;298399

Of course, if you have WinXP Pro, you can encrypt the desired
files/folders.

Best Practices for Encrypting File System
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;223316

As a crude work-around, you can place the file in a compressed
folder, and set a password to uncompress the folder to view/access its
contents. Also, some applications allow the user to password-protect
their specific data files. Read the specific application's Help files
for further information on this capability.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
Click to expand...
 
You need to lock your computer when you leave it. I believe there are
keyboards that you can do that by pressing a couple keys or create a
shortcut on your desktop so all you have do is click an icon and it locks. I
can't imagine too may situations where that would not be adequate other then
maybe life threatening situations. It is crazy to walk away from your
computer without locking it or logging off. If you could password protect
folders then someone else could access your logged on computer and password
protect folders as you and lock you out of your own data or an attacker
could put a keyboard logger on your computer to capture your passwords
anyway or delete your files or copy your data to crack the passwords at his
leisure to access that data like they can now for password protected Zip
files or Office files. We all get interrupted all the time and have to deal
with it. --- Steve


Frank88 said:
All that is fine, but only when not logged in, whether as given user, or
possibly even as admin, though I'm not certain about the latter. I notice
that logged in as admin allows me to view anything of any user's, but
perhaps
rights can somehow be granted only to a specific user, excluding
admin--seems
doubtful. I have to look into that. Otherwise, if I remain logged in--to
my
own computer--then all files (not otherwise password protected) are
visible
to anyone who sits down here. So long as I'm careful to log out, none of
it
matters, but should I be interrupted suddenly, before logging out, then
all
is visible to anyone who happens by. I'm simply suggesting that MS offer a
means via WK2 or XP, or any other Windows platform, to password protect
any
folder one one user likes, such that the folder is ONLY available when
that
folder is OPEN, and not otherwise. I'm simply suggesting an added security
measure. Certainly, there's nothing more "cumbersome" about my idea than
scrolling through lists assigning different rights to different users,
even
if that did solve the problem, which it doesn't, because it doesn't
address a
scenario such as the one I've just described. Thanks for your input.

Frank



Bruce Chambers said:
Frank88 said:
Does anyone know a way to password-protect an entire folder in
Explorer, as
opposed to single files in Word or other programs? I'd suggest that if
there
is no way, there should be a way, and I'd hope MS might consider
programming
in the ability. But maybe there is way, if anyone knows. Thanks,

(Running XP Pro here.)
Click to expand...


Like Win2K, WinXP's file security paradigm doesn't rely on, or
allow, the cumbersome method of password protection for individual
applications, files, or folders. Instead, it uses the superior method
of explicitly assigning file/folder permissions to individual users
and/or groups.

HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;279783

HOW TO Set, View, Change, or Remove File and Folder Permissions
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q308418

HOW TO Set, View, Change, or Remove Special Permissions for Files and
Folders
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];Q308419

HOW TO Set the My Documents Folder as Private in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;298399

Of course, if you have WinXP Pro, you can encrypt the desired
files/folders.

Best Practices for Encrypting File System
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;223316

As a crude work-around, you can place the file in a compressed
folder, and set a password to uncompress the folder to view/access its
contents. Also, some applications allow the user to password-protect
their specific data files. Read the specific application's Help files
for further information on this capability.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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