To protect the folders, the program in Russian. Free utilities and software to install a password on the folder

Often, users fall into a situation where you need to hide the contents of a folder or file from an extraneous eye, so the question arises on how to put a password to the folder.

Unfortunately, the developers of the Windows operating system did not provide for the presence of such a function as setting a password to separate custom files and directory.

On the OS, you can only configure the ban to certain users to use or view a specific type of directory, files or programs.

Setting the password to the folder is necessary if:

• you want to hide your files from unauthorized access to them by other persons;
• want to protect your personal data from illegal copying or distribution.

Put a password for archive

Using this method, you can pass the folder with any file types, while it is possible to hide the very fact that the file has a specific format files.

The Introduction window will fly before the archive opens, so it is impossible to learn about its content if the user does not know the combination. Password on the archive without programs is the easiest way to protect folders.

Tip! The installation function of the password to the archive does not require pre-installing additional software, it is only necessary to have pre-installed free winRar programs or 7-zip.

To add the desired folder In the archive and pass it, follow the instructions below:

• Click on the Right-click Manipulator you are interested in and add it to the archive, as shown in the figure;

• Immediately after you have selected the action "Add to Archive", a window will appear with various settings of the parameters of the created archive. Go to the tab with additional parameters and find the button to install the password, it is shown in the figure;

• Press the button that allows you to set the password.

After that, a small input window will instantly appear. New code You must enter twice (to verify the correct administration). You can also put a tick near the file encryption option.

Thus, third-party users will not be able to learn anything about the type of file hidden.

Password installation process for archive

After trying to open the archive, we see that you first need to enter the code and only then you can view, as well as edit its contents.

This method Code settings is the easiest and fairly effective. However, for its implementation, it will take the presence of one of the archivers on the computer.

Also, if the code is forgotten or lost, the restore content of the archive will be a fairly difficult task for the user. That is why it should be stored backup protected files, for example, on cloud storage.

The above way can also pass the archive on the flash drive.

Using the PasswordProtect USB program

On the Internet you can find great amount third-party software, which can cope with the task of setting the code to the system object you need.

A large proportion of such programs, unfortunately, can harm your files, rather than protect them from unauthorized access from other users.

This article presents the most popular and common types of software that have been tested. large quantity Users, therefore, these programs will not harm your computer and files that need to be parishet or hide.

This program Available for download and installation on a PC and has compatibility with Windows 10.

PasswordProtect USB. Allows you to pass the folders and remove the previously installed cipher. The application has an intuitive user interfaceTherefore, work with this utility will not be a challenge for the user.

You can start the process of setting the code not only using the main program window, but also using the computer desktop.

After you have installed this software on your operating system, the installation function will be displayed in the menu of each folder, you only need to press it with the right mouse button, as shown in Figure:

• The next step must be entered the code in the window that opens. Enter it twice to eliminate the possibility of error.

• After installing the code on the folder icon, a sign will be displayed, which indicates that the folder is protected. When you try to open a pellets folder, such a dialog box will appear. In this way, the code is most often put on folders with photos.

FOLDER LOCK SOFTWARE

This program is able to protect the folder on a laptop or PC. Supported operating systems: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10. The utility encrypts directly to the folder itself, without an archive.

You can put the code on the folder with absolutely any content: with files, with photos and documents.

To install it on the folder using this program, follow the instructions:

• Download and install the Folder Lock;
• Enter the password in the text field, which will be the password folder;
• Click OK;
• Drag the desired folder to the main program window or use the Add icon;

• after the folder was added, it instantly becomes blocked and only a person who knows the password can open it.

Put a password on a network folder

You can also pass through network folder. You can also download individual programs for this, for example:

You can also use the program. Folder Guard(

Each user has some of its confidential data and it would not want this data to see other users. In fact, it does not matter what the files are, the main thing is that it is a personal information that should be inaccessible to the rest. In this difficult case, the user will help the program for encrypting and protecting files that we will tell below.

Some programs have integrated document protection tools using passwords, such as Microsoft Office and WinRAR. But minus their protection is that for these programs there are many utilities for hacking, with which it is quite realistic to hack this protection. And if you need to hide a photo, audio recording or video?!

So, what can be hidden and encrypt programs for encryption? Usually users hide separate files, folders, whole logical sections hard disk, portable media (memory cards, flash drives, external hard drives), email and much more.

Note that the hide and encryption of files is not a complicated, but a fairly easy operation, which is comparable by complexity with the usual editing of the text file.

In conclusion, we turn your attention that programs for encryption and data protection can be dangerous due to the inattention of the users themselves. This situation may occur that the user itself cannot access the encrypted data as a result of the loss or forgetting the password, any problems with the operating system and other situations. To the use of this kind of software you need to approach seriously and carefully.

Many users are waiting for a long time by Microsoft add a native function to Windows, which will protect certain password folders (for example, which contain confidential information). So far, this has not happened, and therefore, we have only one thing - use programs created by third-party developers. However, even though there are many such programs, most of them do not differ in particular quality. We tested more than 20 tools of this type and selected 5 of the best.

Lock-A-Folder is the perfect solution for the most demanding users. The program uses only one master password and has a very simple user interface. Moreover, the program does not offer any settings at all.

After selecting folders that require protection, all you need to do is close the application. Instead of using encryption, this program simply hides folders from any user who can try to access them. To restore access to secure folders, you will have to open the lock-a-folder again and use the Unlock button (UNLOCK).

This program is available completely free.

This is one of the best programs we tested. It has many functions, and they all work very well. With Folder Guard, you can protect files and folders using individual passwords, or just hide and block them. The interface looks great - it is well structured and very easy to use. The folders you want to protect can be selected in the tree list, or simply drag them into the program window.

Really useful feature of the program is to create filters for different types Files so that they will be protected automatically. In addition, you can selectively assign access rights for user accounts on your computer.

This program is paid, but there is a trial version that works within 30 days. Full version costs $ 59.95. Having bought it, you will receive updates to any new version During the first year of use. In addition, one license can be used on 2 computers. However, after the first year, if you want to receive further updates, you will have to pay for a new license.

To protect the folders, this program uses encryption. Folder Protector does not require installation. Thus, all you need to do is run the executable file, select the folder, enter the password twice and click "Protect". All files inside the encrypted folder will be hidden, and you will detect there only a small executable file that you will need when you want to unlock the folder.

The program works for free with some restrictions. You can configure it to use 256-bit encryption only if you get a Pro version that costs $ 22.95.

FOLDER LOCK LITE is another solid program that allows you to protect folders, files and even entirely discs. When you first start, you will be prompted to enter a master password. This password will be used for each folder or file that you decide to block. You can then simply drag the items that you want to protect, to the main program interface. All folders selected for protection will be immediately blocked and hidden. No one can get access to them without your password.

Trial version Allows you to use this program for 30 days. For further use you will have to pay $ 39.95.

This program is easy to use and has a pleasant and understandable user interface. It uses a single master password for all the folders you choose to protect.

To add folders, use the Add button, but you can simply drag them into the program interface. Protected Folder offers several options, including ways that you can overlap access to users who do not have a password.

It is also worth mentioning that you will not be able to delete this program without prior to the master password. During deletion, all your secure folders will be automatically unlocked. Thus, the risk of data loss is eliminated.

20 Programs launches are free without any restrictions. One year license costs 600 rubles.

What we learned during testing

No need to set more than one program of this type. We encountered a problem when programs blocked each other, and we could not have access to folders protected by one program after installing the other.

Another problem is that most of the programs of this type forget to unlock the folders protected by them when you delete them. Thus, you can easily lose access to your data. However, the programs described above do not have this shortage, so after their deletion you will not stay with blocked or hidden folders.

Excellent day!

Any user on the computer has its own confidential folders and files that I would like to protect against other people's eyes. Let's say, at home you need to protect the child from the information that is not intended for him, but at work, by virtue of certain reasons, it may be undesirable to demonstrate to other employees some of their work materials. Well, in addition, tell me, put your hand on the heart, is there always calmly you let the colleagues for your working computer or households - to your home? It is unlikely ... and the reason here lies not only in the desire to limit access to confidential information, and in the subconscious concern to lose their own materials due to illiterate actions of other users - that is, for example, when one's own child actively accepted to develop the art of working with files and folders with All the sorrowful consequences for you. It is worth noting that the need to protect against foreign eyes confidential information is relevant not only if such data is constantly stored on the working or home computer, but also when passing them to other users e-mail Either on various media (CD / DVDs, USB drives, floppy disks, etc.). Often it also makes sense to think about protecting folders and operating system files and applications from changes, removal or movement in an unknown direction, which is often managed to arrange insufficiently trained users. If this is your case, it is more reasonable to hide such folders, say, from the eye of households, and one this action can already be significantly extended by your computer, since hidden folders can be used in the usual way (for example, running application programs From the "Start" menu), but to remove them, rename or move it will not be possible. As for confidential information, it is better to block it - the locked folders will be inaccessible to any repaid, or therefore the documents that are securely protected from any changes. If you won't want other users to know that some information is hidden from them, it is worth combining blocking with hide. Well, if this seems not enough for you, no one forbids you and encrypt the most secret materials.

Protection of folders and files with built-in tools

Theoretically, to hide your folders and files can be using the built-in windows features - For this, it is enough in the properties of the corresponding objects to enable the "hidden" attribute. The folders hidden in this way and the files will not be visible in the conductor to other users of the system, but only provided that the checkbox contains the box "Do not shown in the properties of their parent folders. hidden files and folders. "In principle, it may be enough to protect its data from the most unprepared audience. However, the objects hidden in this way will be visible in applications that do not use a standard dialog for displaying files and folders (FAR, Total Commander. etc.), so such protection is more than unreliable.

More reliable data protection embedded windows tools It is the use of the EFS encrypted file system (Encrypting File System, EFS), which allows encrypting files by turning on for them in the Explorer "Encryption Content to Protection" options (Properties\u003e General\u003e Advanced). To read the files encrypted in this way without a password knowledge cannot be, however, the EFS system allows you to protect folders and files only in file System NTFS.

Therefore, to protect personal folders and files, it is much better to use specialized utilities. These solutions will allow more reliably to hide folders and files (they will not be seen when the checkbox is turned off the "Do not show hidden files and folders"), as well as block access to them and even encrypt the data itself.

Programs to hide, block and encrypt folders and files

There are a lot of programs to hide / encrypt folders and files on the market, and the level of protection implemented in them is noticeably different. In some solutions, only hiding folders and files and / or block them (it happens that such possibilities are also available for disks). Other additionally supported full-fledged file encryption (Table 1), which ensures data protection even when loading to another operating system Or installing a disk on another computer. We do not set the goals to identify the best of existing solutionsSince everything depends on the user-facing tasks, and simply we give the most attractive to our (it is clear that the subjective) view of diverse tools. Here, by the way, it is immediately worth noting several nuances. First, it is quite possible that by default, the protected data will be inaccessible to other users only with the normal loading of the OS, and when download windows in safe mode (SAFEMODE) Access to them will be open. This is explained very simple: in safe windows mode Only the drivers required for the system are loaded, and all additional (including - and responsible for the hiding data) skips, which leads to a similar result. So it is possible that to protect data in SAFEMODE mode in utilities it will be necessary to make some settings (usually turn on the corresponding check box). Secondly, to hidden or blocked data, other users will be able to access, booting in another operating system if there are several of them on the computer, and the protection program is configured only in one. There is another way - to rearrange hDD With secure information on another computer as an additional, boot on it, after which it will be possible to access data without difficulty. With external media (USB, Flash, CD-RW, etc.) is even easier - it is worth installing them on another computer - and the defense has not happened. However, in real life, quite often such protection (if, for example, we are talking about a hard disk, OS on a computer one, and you know exactly that other users will not be able to connect it to another computer) can be quite enough. In addition, in case you accidentally forget the password to the data (we all happen, sin), you will always have reliable way Get access to them on another computer. Well, if in your arsenal, super-secret materials are stored, and the attackers who are thirsty to get to them, professionals, it will not be possible to restrict ourselves to the distortion or blocking data - their encryption is necessary. The encrypted data will not be able to be read none when loading in SafeMode mode, nor when booting to another OS or on another computer. But if you are pleased to forget the password to the data, you can safely "put a cross" on these super secret materials - no one can get to them, including you personally.

Table 1. Functionality of solutions for hiding, blocking and encrypting folders and files (click to enlarge)

UNIVERSAL SHIELD 4.3.

Developer: Everstrike Software.
Distribution size: 1.86 MB
Spread: Conditionally free Universal Shield - very comfortable tool To protect personal files, folders and disks (including network) by hiding and encryption (seven encryption algorithms are supported, including AES with a 256-bit key). It is allowed to hide files that satisfy a specific mask (say, C: *. DOC). It is provided for installing various access rules (reading, writing, visibility and deletion), which allows you to choose a variety of parameters combinations - for example, you can make files available for reading and writing and disable them. Such an access option allows not only to prevent the removal of personal data, but also application files, which is often no less relevant. If no action was performed on the computer for a certain period, the data blocking can be performed automatically. For greater security it is possible to use special regime Stealth Mode, in which the entire visible information about installing Universal Shield is hidden - the program label on the desktop and in the Start menu, as well as the corresponding folder in Program Files. Access to the program in this mode is possible only when you press a pre-conventional key combination. There is support for "trusted processes", which allows backup Files, scan of viruses and similar operations in protected state. Access to the program settings requires an input of the master password. The demo version of the program is fully functional for 30 days, the cost of the commercial version is 34.95 dollars. Protect data in two ways - using the Wizard automatically running when you first download (then it can be activated by the File\u003e Universal Shield Wizard command or the Wizard button ) Either manually. If the choice is made in favor of the wizard, you will have to consistently perform several operations. At first, choose a security option - that is, specify the program whether the data will be hidden or encrypted, or they will be limited to the access option. And then two steps selection of protected data, during which you can not only explicitly specify them, but also use the file masks. Protect data manually is not at all difficult - the Protect button and the File\u003e Protect Object button correspond for this operation. For example, by clicking the Protect button, you will have to determine the data type (disk, folder, file or mask) on the left side of the window that opened the window, and you rightly specify the protected object on the disk and configure the parameters of its protection. Adjustment installed type Protection is performed through the properties of the object (the Properties button), and the failure of protection is by normal removal of an object from the program window. Temporary removal of protection is carried out from the utility itself when you press the Locked button or hot-keys (the last much faster and more convenient).

Installation for protection files by encryption requires a little longer time and effort. At first, just as it was above considered, the basic protection parameters are configured (the Protect button). And then the protected object appeared in the utility window is additionally encrypted (ENCRYPT button) indicating the encryption and password algorithm. The decryption is performed when you press the Decrypt button, and, of course, it is impossible without a password.

Additionally, Universal Shield allows you to restrict access to special Windows folders ("My Documents", "Favorites", control panel Ave.), protect the desktop from changes (so that users cannot delete, add or change shortcuts and badges on the desktop), limit Access to the control panel and prevent the date and time change on the computer. You can do it through the wizard, or using the File\u003e Security Tricks command.

There is a cheaper simplified version of Universal Shield - Lock Folder XP (1.38 MB; $ 24.95), in which disk protection, folders and files are limited to their hide. In addition, this utility does not have support for trusted processes and limited the use of hot keys (however, the main function of fast power protection is present), and is also limited to the functionality in terms of access to special Windows folders and system settings. Setting up data protection in the Lock Folder XP is possible through the wizard and manually - in both cases it will be necessary to determine the type of data hidden and specify which, for example, the folders need to be hidden. For the temporary switching on / off protection, the Locked / unlocked button is answered or the cluster of the combination keys Ctrl. + Win.

FOLDER GUARD 8.1.

Developer: Winability Software Corporation.
Distribution size: 3.29 MB
Spread: Conditionally free Folder Guard is a simple and convenient solution for restricting access to folders and files, as well as prevent access to the Windows settings. Restricting access to personal data is carried out by hiding, installing access to read-only access or blocking. Hide is implemented in two options - you can make folders and files hidden or assign the folders empty (empty). In the second case, externally folders will be visible, but when opening will look empty, although in reality information will contain - this option defenseless protection regarding standard windows folders, the complete hide of which will speak to other users that the information on the computer is blocked, which is undesirable. Protected folders will not be available to other system users even when booting Windows in safe mode, however, it will be necessary to enable the corresponding checkbox in the settings. Access to the configurations of the program itself is carried out only when the master password is entered, it is provided for the function of its recovery to forget this password using the free Emergency Recovery utility. The program is also implemented hidden mode (Stealth Mode), in which its own shortcuts and files will be hidden. The demo version of the program is fully functional for 30 days, the cost of the commercial version depends on the type of license: a personal license - $ 29.95, a business license - $ 59.95.

You can protect data using a wizard, on the machine running when loading the program (it is clear that the launch of the wizard is easy to disable), or manually. In the case of working with the master, the folder with the documents is determined, determine whether to access the folder folder, you set the option of visibility of the folder (visible, hidden, either empty) and determine the level of access to it ( full accessNo access, "read only"). To control the level of access to the files of a specific type, the use of file masks is additionally allowed. When you protect manually, the procedure will be the same, the same, the exception that you will have to do it yourself - first select the folder in the program in the program window, and then install all the required settings, click on the corresponding buttons in the program window (Read-Only, No Access, Visible, etc.) or choosing the necessary commands in context menu. To remove protection, you have to perform the same set of actions, but in the reverse order.

It is allowed to install various restrictions for different users (Appropriate users will first have to add using the Protect\u003e User List command) - it is very convenient because there will be no need to regularly withdraw protection in the case of a computer on a computer. It is possible to configure the list of "reliable programs" (Protect\u003e Trusted Programs) - that is, antivirus, redundancy programs, etc., which will allow to conduct appropriate operations without removing protection. For switching from the protected mode to the usual, the Ctrl + G key combination is responsible, as well as the Toggle Protection button. In addition to protecting folders and files using Folder Guard, you can also protect basic settings OS from adjustment (command Protect\u003e Permissions). In particular, close access to the properties of the taskbar, the "Start" menu and a number of other windows, to preserve the displays properties (if they have been changed), block the change in folder properties and internet Settings Explorer, not shown on the desktop icons. And also prevent changing the parameter system critical to work by closing access to the control panel and installing the prohibitions series: access to system registry, add / delete printers, use the "Run" command, etc. You can also hide in the "My Computer" window, Explorer and Standard dialog boxes Open / Save specific discs and block CD / DVD recording. For different users, a different set of such restrictions is possible.

There is a cheaper version folder programs Guard - MySecretFolder (1.35 MB; Personal license - $ 24.95, Business License - $ 3.95). This utility It is easier to use than the Folder Guard, but its capabilities are limited to hiding and blocking folders, and the installed protection settings will be the same for all users. Setting up data protection in MySecretFolder is very simple - you just need to specify the folder, select the protection option for it (hide or blocking) and click on the Protect button. Temporary protection is performed on the Unprotect button.