On a computer to which several people have physical access, confidential or proprietary information of a specific user can be stored in a certain directory. In this case, in order to ensure that the data located there is not declassified or changed by mistake by someone, it makes sense to think about how to limit access to this folder to other persons. The easiest way to do this is to set a password. Let's find out in what ways you can put a password on a directory in Windows 7.
You can password-protect a directory in the specified operating system either using special software for assigning a password, or using archiver applications. Unfortunately, there are no proprietary tools specifically designed for imposing a password on a directory in Windows 7. But, at the same time, there is an option with which to solve the problem you can do without a third party software. Now let's look at all these methods in more detail.
Method 1: Anvide Seal Folder
One of the most convenient programs To set a password for a directory, use Anvide Seal Folder.
- Run the downloaded installation file Anvide Seal Folder. First of all, you need to select the installation language. As a rule, the installer selects it in accordance with the settings operating system, so just click here "OK".
- Then the shell opens "Installation Wizard". Click "Further".
- A shell is launched where you need to confirm your agreement with the current developer license agreement. Place the radio button in position "I accept the terms of the agreement". Click "Further".
- In a new window you need to select the installation directory. We recommend that you do not change this parameter, that is, install in standard folder program storage. Click "Further".
- In the next window, you can configure the creation of an icon on "Desktop". If you want to observe it in this area, then just click "Further". If you do not need this shortcut, then first uncheck the item “Create an icon on the desktop”, and only then click on the indicated button.
- The application installation procedure is performed, which will take you very little time.
- In the last window, if you immediately want to activate the application, leave a mark next to the item "Launch Anvide Seal Folder". If you want to launch later, uncheck this box. Click "Complete".
- Sometimes running the above method via "Installation Wizard" fails and an error appears. This is because the executable file must be run with administrative rights. This can be done by simply clicking on its shortcut on "Desktop".
- A window for selecting the program interface language opens. Click on the flag of the country from the presented options whose language you want to use when working with the application, and then click on the green checkmark below.
- A window opens license agreement using the program. It will be in the previously selected language. Check it out and if you agree, click "accept".
- After this it will be launched directly functional interface Anvide Seal Folder applications. First of all, you need to set a password to log into the application. This must be done in order to outsider I could not enter the program and remove the protection. So, click on the icon “Password to enter the program”. It is located on the far left side of the toolbar and looks like a lock.
- A small window opens, in the only field of which you need to enter the desired password and click "OK". After this, you will always be required to enter this key to launch Anvide Lock Folder.
- Returning to the main application window, to add a directory that should be password protected, click on the icon in the form of a sign «+» entitled "Add folder" on the toolbar.
- The directory selection window opens. Going through it, highlight the directory for which you want to set a password. After that, click on the green checkmark at the bottom of the window.
- The address of the selected folder will be displayed in the main Anvide Lock Folder window. To set a password for it, select this element and click on the icon "Close access". It looks like a closed padlock icon on the toolbar.
- A window opens where in two fields you need to enter twice the password that you are going to apply to the selected directory. After completing this operation, press "Close access".
- Next, a dialog box will open asking you whether to set a password hint. Setting a reminder will allow you to remember the code word if you suddenly forget it. If you want to enter a hint, click "Yes".
- In the new window, enter a hint and click "OK".
- After this, the selected folder will be password protected, as evidenced by the presence of a closed lock icon to the left of its address in the Anvide Lock Folder interface.
- In order to enter the directory, you need to highlight the directory name in the program again and click on the button "To open access" in the form of an open lock on the toolbar. After this, a window will open in which you must enter the previously set password.
Method 2: WinRAR
Another option to password-protect the contents of a folder is to archive it and apply a password to the archive. This can be done using an archiver.
- Launch WinRAR. Using the built-in file manager go to the directory where the folder you are going to password-protect is located. Highlight this object. Click on the button "Add" on the toolbar.
- The archive creation window opens. Click on the button there "Set password…".
- A password entry shell opens. In two fields of this window you need to alternately enter the same key expression, with which you will open a folder placed in a password-protected archive. If you want to further protect the directory, check the box next to the parameter "Encrypt file names". Click "OK".
- Returning to the archiving settings window, click "OK".
- After archiving is completed, resulting in a file with the RAR extension, you need to delete the source folder. Select the specified directory and click on the button "Delete" on the toolbar.
- A dialog box opens in which you must confirm your intention to delete the folder by clicking the button "Yes". The directory will be moved to "Basket". To ensure complete confidentiality, be sure to clean it.
- Now, in order to open the password-protected archive in which the data folder is located, you need to double-click on it with the left mouse button ( LMB). A password entry form will open, where you should enter a key expression and click the button "OK".
Method 3: Create a BAT file
You can also password-protect a folder in Windows 7 without using any third-party programs. This task can be accomplished by creating a file with the BAT extension in the standard Notepad of the specified operating system.
- First of all, you need to launch Notepad. Click the button "Start". Next, select "All programs".
- Navigate to folder "Standard".
- A list of various programs and utilities opens. Select a name "Notebook".
- Notepad is running. Paste the following code into the window of this application:
cls
@ECHO OFF
title Secret folder
if EXIST "Secret" goto DOSTUP
if NOT EXIST Folder goto RASBLOK
ren Papka "Secret"
attrib +h +s "Secret"
echo Folder locked
goto End
:DOSTUP
echo Vvedite cod, chtoby otcryt catalog
set/p "pass=>"
if NOT %pass%== secretnyj-cod goto PAROL
attrib -h -s "Secret"
ren "Secret" Papka
echo Catalog uspeshno otkryt
goto End
:PAROL
echo Nevernyj code
goto end
:RASBLOK
md folder
echo Catalog uspeshno sozdan
goto End
:EndInstead of the expression "secretnyj-code" enter the code expression that you are going to install on the secret folder. It is important not to use spaces when entering it.
- Next, click on the item in Notepad "File" and press "Save as…".
- A save window opens. Go to the directory where you intend to create a password-protected folder. In field "File Type" instead of option « Text files» select "All files". In field "Encoding" select from the drop-down list "ANSI". In field "File name" enter any name. The main condition is that it ends with the next extension - ".bat". Click "Save".
- Now with the help "Conductor" move to the directory where you placed the file with the BAT extension. Click on it LMB.
- In the same directory where the file is located, a directory called "Papka". Click on the BAT object again.
- After this, the name of the previously created folder changes to the name "Secret" and it automatically disappears after a few seconds. Click on the file again.
- A console opens in which you can see the entry: “Vvedite code, chtoby otcryt catalog”. Here you need to enter the code word that you previously wrote down in the BAT file. Then click Enter.
- If you enter the wrong password, the console will close and you will need to click on the BAT file again to launch it again. If the code was entered correctly, the folder will be displayed again.
- Now copy into this directory the content or information that you want to password protect, naturally, subsequently deleting it from the original location. Then hide the folder by clicking on the BAT file again. How to display the directory again in order to access the information stored there has already been described above.
As you can see, there is a fairly wide range of options for password-protecting a folder in Windows 7. To do this, you can use a number of programs specifically designed for these purposes, use archivers that support data encryption, or create a BAT file with the appropriate code.
Each of us from time to time has a need for hiding personal information on PC. Various files or folders may require confidentiality and should not be accessible to other users. This need has arisen for me more than once, and in this material I will describe various methods - how to put a password on a folder, I will list auxiliary programs that can easily password protect required file, and also describe their basic functionality.
Popular archivers WinRAR or 7-Zip are installed on the computer of the vast majority of users. It is their functionality that I propose to use in setting passwords on folders to protect your files. If you do not have these programs installed, download one of them from the official websites WinRAR or 7-Zip.
Instructions for WinRAR
To understand how to put a password on a folder using WinRAR, look at how this process visually looks like:
Instructions for 7-zip
- Working with an alternative archiver 7-zip just as simple.
- Highlight necessary files or folder, right-click, and in the menu that appears, select “7-zip - Add to archive.”
- Set the archive format to 7-zip, check the “Show password” and encrypt file names checkbox.
- In the “Enter password” column, enter the required combination of letters (numbers).
- And then confirm the changes by clicking “Ok”.
Hiding a folder using a bat file with a password
Create a folder that will be password protected. Then we create it in this folder Text Document with content similar to this (go and copy the contents of the file into your file via copy-paste ):
Although this method is not characterized by increased reliability, and an experienced user can always look into the bat file, nevertheless, this option can be considered as one of the alternatives to setting a password on a folder with files.
Setting a password for a directory using Microsoft Office 10
Tools Microsoft versions Office 2010 (or later) allows you to encrypt documents created in this product.
How to put a password on a folder using Windows tools
If you are not a retrograde, you use NTFS, not FAT 32, and users log into your computer using their (and not your) account (without administrator rights), then you can use the method below to set a password for the directory.
Its essence lies in specifying in the folder properties those accounts that will have access to it. If a person's account has no necessary rights– then he will not gain access to the directory or will be asked for a password.
- To do this in Explorer, right-click on the folder (file) and click “Properties”, go to the “Security” tab, then click “Edit”.
- Click on “Add” and enter the logins of people to whom you will deny access.
- To check the correctness of the entered logins, click “Check names” (the correctly entered login will be underlined).
- If you need to block everyone, then type the word “Everyone” (without quotes), click “Ok”, and put the necessary checkboxes in the “Ban” column, click “Ok”.
- After these steps, all users (except administrators) will not be able to access this folder.
How to protect a folder with a password using auxiliary programs
Below I will provide a list of auxiliary programs that make it easy to set passwords on folders, and also describe their functionality.
LocK-A-FoLdeR. This program Absolutely free and a great option for beginners. It has a minimal interface and a simple password system. The “Lock a Folder” option selects a folder for the password, the “Unlock selected folder” option opens a folder with passwords, and the “Change Master Password” option allows.
Instead of using encryption techniques, LocK-A-FoLdeR simply hides the folder from anyone who might have access to it. To use the folder again, you need to run this program and click on “Unlock selected folder”.
Folder Protector. This program uses encryption to protect your folders. You need to launch it, specify the folder to which you want to close access, enter the password twice and click on “Protect”. The folder will be encrypted. It can be decrypted using the main program, as well as using a small executable file that will be created after encryption.
The Folder Protector program has a semi-commercial basis (the free functionality is very wide) and can be recommended to many users.
Password Protect USB. This product is very popular, although it is based on a paid version. Its functionality is similar to the programs described above; just click on “Lock Folders”, specify the path to the folder, and enter the password twice.
You can go the other way, because Password program Protect USB is built into the Explorer menu. In Explorer, right-click on the desired folder, select “Lock with Password Protect USB”, enter the password twice and click on “Lock Folders”. Now, when you try to enter this folder, a window will pop up where you will need to enter a password.
DirLock. The functionality of this program is similar to the previous ones; after installation, the “Lock/Unlock” option will appear in the Explorer menu. If it does not appear, you need to run the program, and in its options select Add “Lock/Unlock” Context Menu.
Now, to encrypt a file, you just need to right-click on it, select “Lock/Unlock”, enter the password twice, and then click on Lock. The procedure for gaining access to an encrypted file is similar - after launching it, you will need to enter the required password.
You can see how it works here:
Anvide Lock Folder. This free program will help you how to put a password on the folder http://anvidelabs.org/programms/asf/.
Launch the software, click on the plus in the main menu, use Explorer to find the folder for which you need to set a password and click on the image of the lock at the top. Enter the password twice and click on “Close access” (you can create a password hint). The folder will become hidden, and to access it you will need to launch Anvide Lock Folder, select our folder, and then click on the image of the open lock. Then you will need to enter a password and click on “Open access”.
IoBit Protected Folder. Paid program for setting passwords, has a simplified interface. After launching the IObit program, click on “Add”, select the required folder, enter the password, and confirm. To unlock, click on “Unblock”, enter the password, and get access to the file. It's simple.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a large number in various ways put a password on the required folders and files. The simplest and most accessible one allows you to use the capabilities of the archiver, while the more complex ones involve the use of specialized programs with similar functionality. All these techniques can significantly limit the access of unwanted individuals to your folders, thereby ensuring complete confidentiality of your data.
In contact with
We are surrounded by various technology and electronics; almost everything we need can fit in one smartphone, tablet or laptop in order to be always at hand. Work or personal data that does not need to be constantly in your hands is stored on your home computer. But no matter where the data is located, we always want to protect it as reliably as possible. We set passwords, PIN codes, hide data under strange names and stuff like that. But what if you need to hide an entire folder? Or at least close it from prying eyes? This is what we will talk about in this article.
Unfortunately, there is no systematic way to set a password, but there are many programs that allow you to do this. For example, Anvide Seal Folder, FlashCrypt, Right-Click Encrypter. But we will go as far as possible simple option, and the program that is on every computer will help us, WinRar.
How to put a password on a folder
First, let's select the folder that needs to be protected with a password. We'll call it " Top Secret" Right-click on the folder and look for the “ Add to archive…" or " Add to archive…».
Opened WinRar, here we need to select the settings for the archive. Click on the button " Set password...».
In a new window you need enter password and its confirmation (re-enter the password), which will protect our folder. After entering, click the button OK" to save it.
Now you need to archive the folder itself. To do this, after selecting all the settings (in our case, you don’t have to select anything), you need to click “ OK».
Now the folder with the data that we wanted to protect is archived and password protected. In order to get to the data, you need to open the archive and enter the password. Protect your data, good luck!
When you try to protect personal data, you probably set a password to boot the system or create an account with appropriate access rights. Sometimes you just need to secure some information. Therefore, users begin to look for materials about.
You can, of course, simply hide the folder, but this will not help you in any way from a security perspective. All you have to do is see it when you go to the directory where it is located. So this method is unsafe.
Unfortunately, Windows 7 does not provide the ability to put a password on a folder, but there are other ways using third-party software. Again, this will not protect your folders from being deleted, for example, so there is no 100% guarantee.
Now let's look at the following password setting methods:
- Archive programs;
- Special utilities;
- Using a hitrov bat script.
How to put a password on a folder using an archiver
The main purpose of archivers is to pack one or more elements into one file with the possibility of compression. We will use these tools to set passwords for folders in Windows 7. These programs include:
- WinRAR
- WinZip
- 7-Zip
- Hamster Free ZIP Archiver
- A lot others.
Let's consider this feature using the example of WinRAR and Hamster Free ZIP Archiver, since others operate on the same principle.
In order to password protect the folder with the WinRAR utility, perform the following steps:
1. Install WinRAR.
2. Right-click on the folder and select “add to archive” in the context menu.
3. The “archive name and parameters” window will open in front of you. On the “general” tab, you need to specify the name of the archive, select its format and the “normal” compression method. In general, you don’t have to change anything here; I don’t recommend changing the compression method, since our goal is just to password-protect the folder and not waste precious time.
5. In the “password entry” window, check the box next to “display password as you enter” so that you can see what you are entering and only once. If you do not want the contents of the archive to be seen, check the “encrypt file names” checkbox. Set a password and click OK.
6. After the completed actions, the window will have the name “archiving with password”, in which you must click the OK button. An archive will be created, upon clicking on which you will be required to enter a password.
If the wrong password is entered, you will see an error message and will not have access to the files.
In order to password protect a folder in Windows 7 with the Hamster Free ZIP Archiver program, follow the following procedure:
1. Install Hamster Free ZIP Archiver.
2. Right-click on the folder and select “add to archive.”
3. You will see the utility interface where our folder will be displayed. Click on “password”, check the box “show password” and enter the desired combination.
4. Click the "archive" button and select "save to computer." Then specify the location to save the password-protected archive.
If you enter an incorrect phrase, the program will warn you about this, so try again.
Special programs for setting a password
Such utilities use encryption of elements, with the help of them we will try to password-protect a folder in Windows 7. Even if these programs are uninstalled, the files remain inaccessible. By setting passwords to enter the applications themselves, you will increase the level of security for your folders. Let's look at an example: Flash Crypt and Anvide Lock Folder.
With Flash Crypt use the steps:
1. Install Flash Crypt.
2. Select the desired folder and right-click, in the menu click on “protectwithflashcrypt”.
3. You will see a window where you need to enter a password of at least 4 characters twice. Leave the rest unchanged and click “protect”.
4. Wait until the folder is encrypted, after which the Flash Crypt icon will appear on it. Left-click and see a password request window pop up. If entered correctly, the folder will be decrypted and will be available in its original form.
Anvide Lock Folder is portable and does not require installation. There is a possibility password-protect the program login. Perform the following manipulations:
1. Run ALF.exe.
3. Click on the plus sign and specify the folder that you want to password protect and press the F5 key. Set a password and select the “close access” button. If necessary, you can also provide a hint.
4. After which the folder will disappear from view and will be accessible only from the program.
5. In the program, click the F9 key, enter the specified password and click “open access”. After which the folder will again be available in Windows Explorer 7.
How to password protect a folder using a bat script
This method, unlike the previous ones, is the most unsafe, since it uses the usual hiding of folders in Windows 7. A user who knows how to turn on the display of hidden items will see this folder without problems, so before using the script, make sure that this option is not enabled.
To begin, create a document with a .txt extension and copy the following code snippet into it:
cls
@ECHO OFF
title Folder Folder
if EXIST "Secretno" goto DOSTUP
if NOT EXIST Folder goto RASBLOK
ren Papka "Secretno"
attrib +h +s "Secret"
echo Folder locked
goto End
:DOSTUP
echo Vvedite parol, chtoby razblokirovat papku
set/p "pass=>"
if NOT %pass%== moi-parol goto PAROL
attrib -h -s "Secretno"
ren "Secretno" Papka
echo Papka uspeshno razblokirovana
goto End
:PAROL
echo Nevernyj password
goto end
:RASBLOK
md folder
echo Papka uspeshno sozdana
goto End
:End
Then save it and . This is done from txt to bat. At this point the batch file is ready for use. The essence of this script is this:
- The first time you click on it, a folder called “Papka” is created, into which you copy the secret content.
- The second click creates a “Secretno” folder, which is assigned the hidden attribute and disappears.
- The next time you click, you are asked to enter a password. If the input is incorrect, the script closes, so run it again.
- After entering the correct data, the folder will be visible and have the name as in the first step.
If you want to change your password, then instead of MOI-PAROL, type yours in Latin characters.
With this we have sorted out, how to password protect a folder in Windows 7. Using archivers and special programs, perhaps the most secure options, but no one is immune from deleting a file or forgetting a password. effective when you are targeting inexperienced PC users. Besides, who bothers to open a batch file in notepad and burn through all the data.
In cases where more than one person has access to a computer, it may be useful to be able to hide some of the data stored on it from being viewed by third parties, as well as protect it from theft and subsequent use. Encrypting folders or files, as well as setting a password to access confidential information, can help solve this problem.
Methods of protection
Actually, you can protect your files from access by others by setting a password and/or encrypting the contents. Another thing is that the presence of similar objects on the disk that exist, but cannot be accessed, may cause additional interest in what is stored in them and why all this is needed at all.
If, in addition to password-protecting the data, you also make it invisible (hidden) from prying eyes, then you can protect yourself from unnecessary questions about what kind of secrets are stored there.
We will tell you about several methods of protection. We would only like to warn you in advance that all passwords that will be used to restrict access to data should not be primitive. Passwords like “12345”, “qwerty” and others like them (by the way, you can find ratings of the most frequently used combinations on the Internet) have long been no secret to anyone. The password must be a sequence of letters (uppercase and lowercase), numbers and special characters with a length of at least 8 characters, and preferably more.
The password must be kept in a secure place and known only to you. A piece of paper with a password glued to the monitor or a text file with it on the disk nullifies all the tricks. And, of course, there is no need to lose your password. With it, you can lose your data forever. Even contacting a computer repair shop in Balashikha or another area, wherever you are, will not help.
To protect your information, you can use standard OS capabilities, create a password-protected archive, or use third party programs, of which there are many. We will describe only a few:
- AnvideLockFolder
- DirLock
- Flash Crypt
- Folder Lock Lite
- Folder Protector
- Hide Folders
- LocK-A-FoLdeR.
Using Windows 7 Tools
The simplest option to limit access to folders and files on a disk is to set individual access rights for each user, but this is not always possible, since joint work with data may be required.
Another option is to use EFS, which is a built-in extra file system, which encrypts data and provides access using a specially created key file with the pfs extension. It is convenient to store this file separately on a flash drive, removable disk etc. Without it, access to data is impossible.
In order to protect your information from prying eyes, you need to:
Now access to this folder is possible only if you provide a pfx file.
We use archiving programs
Common and frequently used archivers, such as WinRar, 7-zip and the like, allow you to create password-protected archives. Let us describe the process of creating such an archive.
WinRar
Procedure:
After this, the selected folder will be archived and password protected. When finished, remember to delete the original folder.
7-zip
The actions are largely similar to the previous archiver. When opening the program window, you need to select a folder, click the “Add” button, specify the archive parameters and in the “Encryption” section enter the password twice. After clicking the “Ok” button, the folder will be archived. All that remains is to delete the original one.
We use third-party programs
Before starting work, it is advisable to scan and remove viruses, clean the system from possible keyboard interceptor programs, spyware, etc. If your actions are recorded, then there is little point in them.
AnvideLockFolder
A small free program that does not require installation on the system, i.e. it can be launched from a disk, flash drive, etc.
- When you first start it, you should set a password for the program itself, to do this, click on the button with the wrench symbol and enter the password.
- By clicking on the “+” button, or dragging a folder into the program window, we add the desired folder.
- By clicking on the button with the picture of a closed lock, we open a window in which you need to enter the access password, and then click “Close access”.
Now the folder will be hidden, and access can only be done through this program.
DirLock
This small program must be installed on the system, after which the “Lock/Unlock” item will appear in the context menu. To block access to a folder, you need to:
Now, any unauthorized attempt to open this folder will display a message warning that you do not have rights to use it.
To unlock a folder, you must again use the “Lock/Unlock” context menu item, after which a window for entering a password will appear, the folder will be unlocked, and you can work with it. After completing all actions, you must lock the folder again.
FlashCrypt
This program uses the AES algorithm and a 256-bit key for encryption. The program is installed on the system and adds an item to context menu. Protected folders are not hidden, but access is provided only with a password.
In order to password protect a folder, you need to:
Folder Lock Lite
Paid program, the cost of which is this moment is $25.95. There is a 30-day trial period. It works a lot like AnvideLockFolder. A master password is used, folders are hidden from visibility by other users, and work with them is possible only from the program itself.
Folder Protector
The program does not require installation and can be launched from any media. The program is paid, but there is a free option in which the encryption function is not available.
To protect a folder, you need to launch the program, select the desired object on the disk, enter a password and click the “Protect” button. All files will become invisible.
HideFolders
Paid program with 30-day trial period. Allows you to set 4 types of protection:
- Hiding files.
- Access blocking.
- Hiding files and blocking access.
- The files are read-only.
How to use the program:
Protecting network folders
Placing folders and files on a network resource allows for their sharing by different users. All of them can be divided into groups, and each can have its own access rights. To block access to a network folder, you need to set a password on it. To do this you need:
- Click “Start”, then “My Computer”, select “Tools” from the menu and click on “Folder Options”.
- Select the “View” tab and uncheck the “Use simple” general access to files”, click “Ok”.
After this, for each user group you need to set a login password:
- Click “Start” -> “Control Panel” -> “ Accounts users."
- Select a group and specify a password for it.
- On the "Advanced" tab you can set your own passwords for local groups users and specifically for each user.
After this, access to network resources will be provided using a password, and the level of rights to use them will be determined by the users’ group membership.
As you can see, it’s not difficult to hide from strangers what you want to hide. Which option to choose - use external programs or tools built into the system – it’s up to you. The most important thing is not to hide it from yourself by forgetting the password, losing the key file, etc.
