Protecting Folders from snoopers and bloopers

cormie

Hi,
Can anyone recommend a freeware app that will allow me to add permissions to a group of folders?

For example, say if I have a "Photo" folder with digital camera snaps, and have each day/event in its own folder, can I have it so none of the folders can be edited, moved or deleted without approval? Just to avoid accidently dropping one folder into another etc.

Also, if I could password protect folders too that would be handy:)

I don't suppose there is something in windows that will do it so I don't need to download any extra bulk?

Any feedback appreciated:)

Deliverance XXV

You could try Kruptos;
Link
Only problem is there is a bit of work involved but a very advanced application.
Read the reviews.

Another option is True Crypt
Link

cormie

Hi,
Thanks for the suggestions but I was more looking for something that would just do a simple password protect and folder protect, I still want the folders to be accessable by programs etc as they usually would and don't want to change their location or anything by putting them in an encrypted drive.

What does the "read only" tickbox of a folder do? I thought it might help me, as in, read only, you can only open the files in the folder, but not change them around, move them or edit them

Stephen

Eh, if you're using Windows 2000 or XP pro or Vista this is easy (and also nearly any other modern operating system). Just set permissions as you would prefer on each folder using the security tab in properties. Have seperate accounts set up for other users of your PC. Don't let them just use your account as this just circumvents the whole security model. Programs would be running either under the credentials of the currently logged in user or the local system, which should be sufficient to allow your software to run normally.

cormie

Hi,
Thanks for the suggestion too

However, I don't think this will do what I'm looking for either, I can make the folder private and everything, but I can't seem to stop it from being edited.

To be honest, I'm not too worried about other users seeing or editing my files, I'm pretty much the only person who uses my laptop, so I'd be more worried about deleting or moving a folder into another folder by mistake with a slip of the mouse or whatever, I've done it before:o

Stephen

The only way another user would be able to modify your folder or its contents is if they have "modify" or "full control" rights on it or if they have administrator priveleges, in which case they can take ownership of any file or folder on the system and change the permissions in whatever way they want.

cormie

Ok thanks

The folder is actually stored on an external HD, which I should have mentioned, so it's basically to protect it from modification/deletion regardless of what computer it's connected to.

kmick

If you have room on your PC just copy the whole folder structure from your external to your PC. If anyone deletes anything on there it does not matter as you have a backup.

layke

cormie wrote: »

Ok thanks

The folder is actually stored on an external HD, which I should have mentioned, so it's basically to protect it from modification/deletion regardless of what computer it's connected to.

If you set iit up the windows permissions correctly no users bar those you specify should be able to even see the folder at all. It will simply look like there's no folder there.

cormie

But I want to protect it from myself I've accidently moved one folder into another before or deleted something without meaning to aswell:o

Deliverance XXV

Okay but those are easily remedied.
For accidental deletion, the file will still be in the 'Recycle Bin' where you can just undelete it, and for just moving one folder into another... just move it back!
If you have emptied recycle bin and fear you cant get your files back, fear not!
Data Recovery will do the job -and it's free!