Monday 4 May 2015

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Protect Files & Folders in Windows

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Locking a folder is sometimes important for us. Maybe we have some files that we don't want others to get their hands into. Those files may be important for us or for our work and those in the wrong hand may sometime leads to a miserable life to us. But remember that there is no 100% protected folder. One way or another computer specialists can break into that, but most of them won't bother when they see that it is password protected.

So it is important to lock or hide these folders from others. here are some steps which you can use for ensuring the security of your folder.

Method 1: Create a Multiple User
You can use a user for yourself, so that no one can log in into your account. You can create a Guest account for others so that they can use the computer without using your personal documents.

  1. Go to Control Panel.
  2. Click User Accounts
  3. Select "Create a password for your account".
    1. Type in a "New password" then "Confirm New Password". You can also give a "Password Hint" so that you can remember your password.
    Method 2: Create a Password Protected Folder
    You can create a password to protect your folder. Here are the steps: 

    Note: This also may sometime leads to missing of your files. So if you are a beginner. Make sure you try this out with some random files before doing with the real one, so no harm for your real data.

    1. First, you need to ensure the folder that you want to lock. If you don't have one, create one by Right Click - New - Folder . 
    2. Create a new text document by Right Click - New - Text Document. Type in the following code.
      3. cls 
@ECHO OFF 
title Folder Private 
if EXIST "HTG Locker" goto UNLOCK 
if NOT EXIST Private goto MDLOCKER 
:CONFIRM 
echo Are you sure you want to lock the folder(Y/N) 
set/p "cho=>" 
if %cho%==Y goto LOCK 
if %cho%==y goto LOCK 
if %cho%==n goto END 
if %cho%==N goto END 
echo Invalid choice. 
goto CONFIRM 
:LOCK 
ren Private "HTG Locker" 
attrib +h +s "HTG Locker" 
echo Folder locked 
goto End 
:UNLOCK 
echo Enter password to unlock folder 
set/p "pass=>" 
if NOT %pass%== PASSWORD_GOES_HERE goto FAIL 
attrib -h -s "HTG Locker" 
ren "HTG Locker" Private 
echo Folder Unlocked successfully 
goto End 
:FAIL 
echo Invalid password 
goto end 
:MDLOCKER 
md Private 
echo Private created successfully 
goto End 
:End
    3. Change the "PASSWORD_GOES_HERE" in the code and change it to your desired password.
    4. Save the text document as lock.bat (remember to save in .bat batch extension)
    5. Run the batch file by double-clicking on it and that will create a folder named Private. This is the place where you will store all you important data. Bring all your important data into the folder.
    6. Run the batch file again. This time it will ask whether you really want to lock the folder. Press "Y" and hit Enter. You can see that the folder disappears.
    7. To get the folder back. Run the batch file again and enter the password. Then the folder reappears. 
    8. This is a simple process of locking your folder. But if you forget your password and you know some basic knowledge of computer, then don't worry.
    9. Just go to the "Folder Options" and uncheck the boxes for “Show hidden files, folders, and drives” and “Hide protected operating system files”.
    10. The other step is to Right Click on the batch file and click Edit, and you can view your password in the code. So be sure to take the batch file from other's hands.
    Method 3: Encrypt your folder
    Windows come with option to protect your folder by encrypting it. Encryption means the process of encoding messages or information in such a way that only authorized parties can read it.

    Windows XP/Vista/7/8
    1. Select the file or folder that you want to encrypt. 
    2. Right Click on it and click Properties. Click the Advanced option.
    3. Check "Encrypt contents to secure data" option. You can see that the folder becomes green in colour.
    4. Click Apply and then Ok.
    5. If you want to reverse the process and decrypt the folder. Then select the folder. 
    6. Right Click on it and click Properties. Click the Advanced option.
    7. Unheck "Encrypt contents to secure data" option. 
    8. Click Apply and then Ok.
    Windows Server
    1. Select the file or folder that you want to encrypt. 
    2. Right Click on it and click Properties. Click the Advanced option.
    3. Check "Encrypt contents to secure data" option. You can see that the folder becomes green in colour.
    4. Click Apply and then Ok.
    5. If you want to reverse the process and decrypt the folder. Then select the folder. 
    6. Right Click on it and click Properties. Click the Advanced option.
    7. Unheck "Encrypt contents to secure data" option. 
    8. Click Apply and then Ok.
    9. Now click Start - Run (Windows Key + R) and type mmc. 
    10. Microsoft Management Console (MMC) Window opens.
    11. Click File - Add/Remove Snap-In - Certificates - click Add - My User Account - click Finish - click Ok.
    12. In console root, click Certificates - Current User - Personal - Certificates - Right click Administrator - All Task - Export - click Next - select Yes, export the private key - click Next - Personal Information Exchange - PKCS #12 (.PEX) - check "Include all certificates in the certification path if possible" & "Delete the private key if the export is successful" - click Next - set Password - set the location to save the key - set Key file name - click Next - click Finish - click Ok. Then the message "Export was Successful" will open.
    13. Log off the system. Log in again.
    14. Double click the key - click Next - click Next - Give Password - check "Mark the key as exportable. This will allow you to back up or transport your key at a later time" & "Include all extended properties" - click Next - click Next - click Finish. Then the message "Import was Successful" will open.
    Method 4: Password Protect Compressed Folders
    You can also compress a folder and give a password to it.
    1. Select the folder. Right click and click "Add to Archive" (if you are using Winrar). Compress the folder.
    2. Go to Advanced tab. Click on Set Password. Enter any password and for additional protection check mark 'Encrypt file names'.
    3. Click Ok.
    4. Then delete the original file.
    Method 5: Create an Invisible Folder
    If you like, you can create an invisible folder, so no one knows where your folder is. 
    1. Right click on the folder and select Rename. 
    2. Press Alt and type 0160 (Alt + 0160). This will create a blank space. Unlike the space, it is a valid filename.
    3. Now change the icon. Right-click on the folder. Select Properties and then select the Customize tab. Click "Change Icon" and select a blank icon. 
    4. Your folder is now hidden, but can be known when the user drags a selection box across the screen.
    Method 6: Download a Third-Party Software
    You can also download some software that allows you to password protect your folder. These help you in ensuring the safety of your folder. But like I said before, you can be 100% sure, whether your folder is safe or not. But it is the best to prepare that facing the worst. here are some name of some third-party softwares that you can use.
    1. Protected Folder
    2. Folder Lock
    3. Folder Guard
    4. Folder Password Lock
    5. Folder Protect
    6. LocK-A-FoLdeR
    7. Folder Protector
    8. Folder Lock Lite

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