Secure a folder in Win98?

[Hobbes]

Does anyone out there know of a way to secure a folder in Windows 98? I have a user that shares a common computer, and would like to secure a folder from prying eyes. I suggested hiding the folder, figuring out-of-sight-out-of-mind, but he wants to lock it up. Can I set up a permissions list or something?

Thanks in advance,
Hobbes

 

[Comtech]

There are lots of shareware and freeware programs around that will allow you to completely hide a folder. I've found it easiest to rename the folder. In Explorer, right click on it, select "rename", hold down the ALT key, and hit 255, then a space, then any name you want. Poof, it's gone, and only the person who knows the folder name can find it.
You must rename it from DOS to get it back, as Explorer simply ignores it completely. Cheers,
Jim
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[Alt255]

Actually, Jim, when you do that in Explorer, Windows simply substitues an underscore character for the ASCII 255. You have to shell to DOS to create and access the folder.

Note that the trick only works under Win9x. NT doesn't see anything wrong with the name.

How do you think I acquired my handle? <g> NT didn't see anything wrong with it.

Alt255@Vorpalcom.Intranets.com
​

 

[Alt255]

Hobbes, the following is probably the most secure way to to keep prying eyes out of a folder without spending a penny.

Obtain copies of PKzip and PKunzip. Shell to DOS and CD to the folder you wish to secure. Enter PKZIP -murps MYFILES.ZIP. PKzip will ask you to eneter a password and then verify it. Then PKzip will move all files and folders under the current folder into MYFILES.ZIP.

The only way to access the files will be to use the correct password or a ZIP password cracker (these take a great deal of time and tie up enormous system resources while they are running. The chances that somebody would attemp to crack the password just to see what's inside the ZIP are rather slim).

To use the files and folders, CD to the folder and enter PKUNZIP -ds MYFILES.ZIP. PKunzip will ask for the password and then extract all files and folders. View, create, modify and move the files however you want them and then enter PKZIP -murps MYFILES.ZIP again to move the updated files back into the zip.

PKware file compression with password encryption is great. If you can obtain a copy of Zip Magic (

http://www.mijenix.com),

even better. This program makes zip files behave like folders in the Windows Explorer. You can access the files just like they were stored in an ordinary folder (Zip Magic runs as a shell extention and the compression is completely transparent). I think this is what you were looking for.

Alt255@Vorpalcom.Intranets.com
​

 

[Zelandakh]

Encryption Plus is £69 and protects your emails and folders with 192 bit encryption.

Last seen there was a version floating around for free. Not sure how you get hold of it, but it comes from pcguardian.co.uk

 

[Comtech]

Yup, I screwed up on that one. Thanks for fixing it Alt255. It's been so long since I've actually done it, I forgot how. X-) Cheers,
Jim
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