# how do I password protect my files?

Category: Geeks r Us

## Post 1 by audioadict (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Wednesday, 31-Oct-2007 3:58:10

Hi.
I was wondering if there was a way to password protect my files? My mom uses my computer all the time, and she could be hacking into my files without my knowing. I have all kinds of files I want to protect. I have my diary, poems, a wish list, a couple of other word documents, music, music that I recorded, files of the singing dectalk, movies, the list goes on and on. I'd like to know how to password protect those kinds of files, and what third party programs I need if any. Thanks.

## Post 2 by Squiggles (Account disabled) on Wednesday, 31-Oct-2007 8:40:30

First of all your mom is not "hacking" into your files your have the wrong concept. However you can zip the entire directory in which the files are in and then password protect the zipped folder. Zip it by right clicking (applications key) the folder and selecting send to...compressed zip folder. This may take a while depending on how large a directory you have. Once the zipping is done, right click the .zip file & going to properties. ! option of password protecting is in there. You could get a usb external drive and do it that way, but they aren't cheap. $100 for a 160 gig drive.

## Post 3 by audioadict (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Wednesday, 31-Oct-2007 13:18:33

good idea. But what if I want to access one of the files? Also, could my mom somehow get around the password? My mom has asked me for my diary password.

## Post 4 by Squiggles (Account disabled) on Wednesday, 31-Oct-2007 20:07:48

if she snoops in your files you best then keep them on a different drive or computer. If your mom is extremely good at cracking passwords then yes otherwise no. You can access the files just by hitting enter on the zip, entering the password and it opens. Be careful however your mom may get annoyed and install a key logger in which case you're screwed. don't think that is much of an issue. So glad all my machines are under my control.

## Post 5 by audioadict (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Thursday, 01-Nov-2007 1:42:57

What's a keylogger and would one be easy for her to install? It's my computer, but the only one in the house that works. Also, how can she crack a password.

## Post 6 by Squiggles (Account disabled) on Thursday, 01-Nov-2007 9:12:18

A keylogger is a program typically used by hackers to record key strokes. If she is not computer literate don't worry about it. get me on a messenger if you want to talk more. aim cdog10829 or msn cody_hurst@hotmail.com

## Post 7 by KC8PNL (The best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better.) on Thursday, 01-Nov-2007 9:16:34

Tell her it's none of her damn business because you are over 18. Unless, of course, she has a good reason to look at your stuff such as you threatening to harm yourself and/or others. Honestly, the only way you can have your computer to yourself is to move out and live on your own. Yes, that means taking a lot of responsibility for yourself, but independence comes with a very high price tag, and I don't mean monitarily only in this case.

## Post 8 by audioadict (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Thursday, 01-Nov-2007 12:07:29

well, my files don't talk about me threatening anything such as killing or setting a place on fire or anything like that. I'll tell her it's none of her business.

## Post 9 by Squiggles (Account disabled) on Thursday, 01-Nov-2007 15:44:07

This is why I am so glad to be a CNA! Security, Security, Security! As I said before if she knows nothing about computers, you have nothing to worry about, slap a password on and forget about it.

## Post 10 by soaring eagle (flying high again!) on Thursday, 01-Nov-2007 15:56:10

agree, if its your computer I personally would lock the entire thing, if it was bought specifically for you then its yours and yours alone. Katie you have to start standing up for yourself take charge come on, your in college. you can do it!!

## Post 11 by nikos (English words from a Greek thinking brain) on Thursday, 01-Nov-2007 15:56:27

Just curious. If we set a password in a zip file and somebody enters a password incorrect for several times does the file lock or anything like that? I know it happens on mobile phones and things like that.

## Post 12 by audioadict (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Thursday, 01-Nov-2007 17:08:55

My mom has to use my computer because her's don't work. I'll try zipping the files up and passwording the zip file.

## Post 13 by b3n (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Thursday, 01-Nov-2007 20:36:23

No nikos, it won't lock it.
To the ccna person - can't spell your name soz. Do you even do much about security at the ccna level, i've been sitting in lectures where this womans been rambling on about tcp verse udp and the osi model. I thought security would fall into the seh type course - sertified ethical hacker?
What proof do you have that your mum has the knolidge to hack your hotmail password?

## Post 14 by audioadict (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Friday, 02-Nov-2007 3:38:06

She can go to the hotmail website,and type in my user name,and click forgot password? Then, she can get the password. Changing the user name won't do any good because she uses msn messenger. If the password is emailed to me, she needs my primary email password to connect to the internet, and she'll use it to hack into my email acount with the ISP.

## Post 15 by Squiggles (Account disabled) on Tuesday, 06-Nov-2007 12:26:25

but of course we do plenty of security especially in chapters 7 and 8. Different methods of getting wireless wep keys etc. Although it isn't detailed it's enough for one to continue doing homework on their own. The OSI and TCP model are just reference sheets for developers and network admins for trouble shooting. The OSI model can be helpful if you want to know what area is most unsecure, I suppose, but I don't know of a real use for it as security goes. Get me personally if you want to talk more about it.

## Post 16 by audioadict (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Thursday, 08-Nov-2007 17:08:40

The proof that I have for my mom hacking into my email is that she's hacked into my sbcglobal email acount with my ISP, and she's sent emails as me. She's asked me for passwords to my email and diary. My mom doesn't want me to set a password for my whole computer. One thing I worry about is I have a guy from visual services come and fix problems with, and install programs on my computer. He's quite computer literate, and I bet he could crack a password.

## Post 17 by Stevo (The Established Ass) on Thursday, 08-Nov-2007 20:19:14

some removable storage devices can be protected with passwords. Why don't you just get one of those and keep your stuff on there?

## Post 18 by Squiggles (Account disabled) on Thursday, 08-Nov-2007 21:42:23

Steevo, that is what I said, but they can get quite pricy considering what she said she has on disk. Music, movies, etc.

## Post 19 by b3n (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Friday, 09-Nov-2007 4:54:23

Have you considered making another account for her on the system with limited privalidges?
You could then change your email password and set her account up so that it would remember the password so she wouldn't kno it.
Ok well i've thought of a few security probs whilst writing this but really, unless she's some hacker, you'll be fine.

## Post 20 by audioadict (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Friday, 09-Nov-2007 19:10:39

I do have a removable flash drive. Actually, two of them, and I have 2 compact flash cards. How do I password protect them.

## Post 21 by Simon (Veteran Zoner) on Sunday, 11-Nov-2007 6:19:24

You don't. You put the files on them, lock them in an old fashioned box, and put them somewhere where your annoying mother won't find them.

## Post 22 by Senior (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Sunday, 11-Nov-2007 12:44:32

In response to post 1, why would your mother want to listen to files of the singing dectalk, what ever that is? I assume that's some speech thing that was designed to be used with screenreaders. What do you think your mother would tink of you if she discovered that you were passionate about the singing dectalk? Personally, I'd think that was a bit strange. I've never met people who listening to the singing dectalk, the people at the Chinese takeaway near where I live certainly wouldn't have a clue what the hell that is.

## Post 23 by audioadict (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Sunday, 11-Nov-2007 13:11:30

Well, so I won't be so embarrassed, I don't want her listening to those files. Also,she'd laugh at me, and tell anyone she came in contact with. The device in a locked box would be a good idea.

## Post 24 by Big Pawed Bear (letting his paws be his guide.) on Sunday, 11-Nov-2007 14:10:04

get an eight gb pen drive, zip the files up, password protect them, copy them to the drive, remove the drive, then lock it in a box, then use something like file shredder from www.handybits.com to shred the files securely from your pc. it's free, so your non donational status will not be affected. then lock the pen drive in a lockable box, or better still, carry it around wherever you go.

## Post 25 by Senior (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Sunday, 11-Nov-2007 16:04:25

Well if you realise other people would think that it was strange to listening to the singing dectalk (who ever he/she is), why do you do it? Do you think you're strange? If you don't think your strange, why do you believe other people think you're strange?

## Post 26 by audioadict (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Wednesday, 21-Nov-2007 11:04:39

I like what I like. I don't even want mom findingout that I have recordings of me singing. The limited account thing should work, but wouldn't she still see my files with a limited account?

## Post 27 by b3n (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Thursday, 22-Nov-2007 20:18:55

Nope, she can't see anything thats inside your profile, so thats anything inside c:documents and settingsname.
Have a google for truecrypt - its a bit ott in your situation but meh - noones stopping you from using it.

## Post 28 by audioadict (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Monday, 26-Nov-2007 11:48:07

Hey I tried true crypt,and it works wonders. For my diary, however, I tried a program called I daily diary. It works quite well. You can find it at www.jaws-users.com