Simple way to keep private files private

There is only one way to keep files secretly, which is to encrypt them. The Encrypting File System (EFS) in most generations of Windows Vista, XP, and 2000 encrypts the content of files and folders, making them difficult for those who want to snoop on them.

Prepare encryption : EFS is available in Windows Vista Business, Enterprise and Ultimate versions; XP Pro; Windows 2000. XP Home does not have EFS, Vista Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium only allow decryption - so only encrypted files can be read but cannot be encrypted. To use EFS on a partition, the partition must be formatted with the NTFS file system. Encryption requires you to use an account with a password protected.

Contains files : To encrypt a file or a folder, right-click it in Explorer or any folder and select Properties (you can also right-click a group to encrypt multiple files or folders) at). On the General tab, click Advanced , check Encrypt contents to secure data , then click OK twice. If you are encrypting a directory, you will be asked if you want to encrypt both files or subdirectories. When encrypted, files and folders will work like any files and folders on the system; You do not have to use any special passwords to open and save them. Other user accounts on the computer and other computers on the network cannot view the contents of these files. Only those who have logged in to your account with the correct password can access these files.

Streamline the steps : You can shorten the process by using the Encrypt encoding command on the right-click menu (the command will change to Decrypt decoding when right-clicking an encrypted file). It is also possible to do this in XP with a quick Registry edit, but it is easier and safer to use Tweak UI, a free PowerToy from Microsoft. If you already have Tweak UI in your system, you need to upgrade it to get the most recent version. When Tweak UI is downloaded, installed, and run, select Explorer in the left pane, drag down the right options, and then click Show "Encrypt" on context menu . Click OK . Now when you right-click an unencrypted file, you will see a new Encrypt (or Decrypt if you choose an encrypted file). Select that option and answer any of the requests made. Tweak UI is not compatible with Windows Vista. However, Totalidea's free TweakVI utility allows you to adjust Vista's settings, allowing you to add Encrypt / Decrypt commands to its menu.

Identify encrypted files

To be able to quickly identify which files or folders in your system are encrypted (or use NTFS compression), open Explorer and select Tools , Folder Options . Click View tab, in the Advanced Settings dialog box, make sure the Show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color box is selected. Encoded items are green, compressed components are blue. Alternatively, if you do not want to detect encrypted or compressed files like this, simply uncheck this option. Click OK . XP Pro and Vista users need this tip only if they want to disable color display for encrypted or compressed files and folders, Oses does that by default. To open the Folder Options dialog box in Vista's Explorer window, click Organize , Folder and Search Options .

Other permissions : In order for people using the system to access encrypted files by specifying their username. First, right-click the encrypted file (not for folders or multiple files) and select Properties . On the General tab, click Advanced , next to 'Encrypt contents to secure data' , select Details . In the middle of that dialog box, click Add to open the Select User dialog box, which will list a list of people with certificates (a type of digital document that helps authenticate authority) on your system. Users can get a certificate in many different ways, but one of the simplest ways is to encrypt one of their own documents. (For more information about certificates, choose Start , Help and Support , type certificates overview , then press). Choose a trusted user and click OK . Note that the Find User button in the Select User dialog box will not work unless your network uses Active Directory, a Windows service that helps administrators save and create relevant information about network objects.

Disabling, not deleting : Because encrypted files are linked to user profiles, deleting files will prevent these people from accessing their encrypted files. For example, if an employee named Scott has just left but can return to the company, we should only disable it instead of deleting the entire record about him. In XP, select Start , Run , type lusrmgr.msc , and press. In Vista, click Start and enter the same command into Start Search . Click the Users folder icon in the left pane and double-click Scott's profile in the right pane. On the General tab, check Account is disabled and click OK ; when Scott returned to work just uncheck this option.

Some free software

You may need more protection with what EFS provides. Download the free utility True-Crypt encryption

Vista's BitLocker : Encrypting the entire hard drive will make it difficult for malware to get into Vista's system files, making the file system more secure to snoopers who want to decrypt the files. file on your system. The BitLocker feature in Vista's Ultimate and Enterprise versions allows you to encrypt the entire partion that the operating system has installed on, save the encryption key in the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip of the computer, or on the USB drive . When USB drives become popular and most of us lack systems with TPM chips, flash drives are really attractive. However, it is disabled by default.

To enable this option, click Start , enter gpedit.msc into Start Search , and click to launch Vista's Group Policy Object Editor. In the left window, select Computer Configuration , Administrative Templates , Windows Components , BitLocker Drive Encryption , and double-click Control Panel Setup: Enable advanced startup options . Next select Enabled , leave Allow BitLocker without a compatible TPM , and click OK . Exit the editor.

Now whenever you launch the BitLocker Drive Encryption applet in Control Panel, it will not explain the loss of the TPM module, as it will provide a new 'Turn On BitLocker' link. BitLocker requires you to boot from a USB drive, it must also have an unencrypted partion.

Hide folders with Free Hide Folders

Sometimes the best way to avoid people's curiosity for your personal folders is to keep the folders secret about it. This is made easy with Freeers Fold.com Free Hide Folders. This program will allow you to make any folder (and its subfolders and contents in it) completely hidden with some manipulation. (Note in Windows Vista, this program may not completely hide some folders such as music folders and Documents). Free Hide Folders has a password protected, so it is safe even if someone knows you are using this software. It also allows you to backup the hidden status of the folder in case there is a problem with the system. And one more thing as its name is set, this software is completely free.