Ask Me Help Desk - How do I password protect my documents and pictures?

How do I password protect my documents and pictures?

Hey, Could anyone tell me how to password protect my files and pictures?

You have 2 options:
1- Have user setup in wondows with a password, and save or move your documents (pics,file etc) to your documents filder.
2- install this software (Secret Disk). This will create a virtual hard drive on your computer, is password protected and only the user (windows user) can see it and again you need to have a user and password.

So if I move a picture folder to documents then I can save it there? I have Vista by the way..

Anyone else that could help me?

There are several ways to do what you are asking.

There are several encryption programs that create a file/folder/program on your computer that you can just drop other files in like a folder. When you close, it becomes unreadable to virtually anyone. The government probably has a few ways of cracking most, but the average joe isn't going to get in with out your password. I actually have one program that is very sneaky. When you open the calculator in windows, you press the right key combination, and it changes, you can add and delete files. When you close it, it goes back to normal and you can't see what you hid.

You can password protect your windows account on your computer. If you're not logged in, then no one can get in. Once again, there are ways around this, but you can minimize them, and the average person will be at a loss. You can set up a guest account to allow other people on your computer without anyone seeing your files.

You can attach your files to an email (your account is password protected). Gmail actually lets you save files, open them, edit them, and delete them, all without having to download them on to your computer.

You can print them out and throw them in a locked box or safe.

You can delete the file extension and save them in an obscure location with an obscure name.

Be creative, you can employ one or more of these methods at the same time. Let me know what you want to do and I will give you step by step instructions.

Really all I want to do is put a password on individual files and stuff.

Password Protect Microsoft Word and Excel Documents

That should help you out for Microsoft Office files. As far as I know the only other way besides those already mentioned, you can zip stuff and add a password to the zip file. That can be used for pictures and stuff. The link should help with most documents.

Protect them from who?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottGem

Protect them from who?

My little brother.

Quote:

Originally Posted by InfoJunkie4Life

Password Protect Microsoft Word and Excel Documents

That should help you out for Microsoft Office files. As far as I know the only other way besides those already mentioned, you can zip stuff and add a password to the zip file. That can be used for pictures and stuff. The link should help with most documents.

How Do I zip pictures?

Right Click on the photo, and select "Send to..." and click "Compressed (zipped) Folder"

When it is done, you will see a zip folder in the same place that the picture is stored. Open it up, right click on the background, and then click "Add a Password"

Does your little brother have a admin account or just a user account?

Quote:

Originally Posted by InfoJunkie4Life

Right Click on the photo, and select "Send to..." and click "Compressed (zipped) Folder"

When it is done, you will see a zip folder in the same place that the picture is stored. Open it up, right click on the background, and then click "Add a Password"

Awesome!

Don't forget to delete the original.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottGem

Does your little brother have a admin account or just a user account?

Neither, my mother's computer broke and he needs to use my computer for schoolwork. I caught him snooping yesterday, so I want to password protect my files.

Quote:

Originally Posted by InfoJunkie4Life

Don't forget to delete the original.

Well I figured out how to zip it, but it's not letting me add a password.. .

Double click it to open it. It should look like you opened a folder. When the window pops up, right click the white space in the background. I think at the bottom of the list there should be an option that says "Add a Password"

Quote:

Originally Posted by InfoJunkie4Life

Double click it to open it. It should look like you opened a folder. When the window pops up, right click the white space in the background. I think at the bottom of the list there should be an option that says "Add a Password"

Maybe it's the photo viewer I'm using, but it's not happening.

there's a little thing by the top that says Password, and then when you put the curser over it there's a little arrow, and then it has random optiosn that have nothing to do with adding a password and I'm getting very annoyed.

5 Attachment(s)

I bring up the menu's by right clicking.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ohsohappy

Neither, my mother's computer broke and he needs to use my computer for schoolwork. i caught him snooping yesterday, so I want to password protect my files.

So set up a user account for him. Make sure its not an Admin account. Then password protect YOUR account. Then make sure you log out whenever you leave your PC or he needs to use it. So he can only log into his account and won't be able to see anything in You're my Documents folder.