Password protect folders for ... what? Local network access? Most operating systems have a permissions feature that allow you to maintain and manage users and permissions.

Windows Vista does not have those features. If you want to password protect folders you need to have software to do it.

If you know of any it would be a big help.

If you are talking about encryption on desktop computers, try TrueCrypt - it's free and pretty good.

If you are talking about a website, then you should be able to add username/passwords from the control panel.

Kaled.

I mean encryption on desktops and laptops.

With TrueCrypt, would I be able to password protect a folder that is on my desktop or laptop on the desktop or maybe in the C drive? That is what I am trying to do.

TrueCrypt seems good but it seems like something that you can use to create a drive and that is a more than what I am looking to do.

With what you mentioned about websites, you mean the control panel in the web hosting account right?

I would appreciate your guys help with telling me a good software to password protect folders and files on my computer.

I also don't mind software that might cost money.

What version of Vista are you running?

I am not sure how to check but I think for this kind of software it probably works on all kinds of Vista?

Well, depending on your version of Vista, you CAN password protect folders. see <snip>, which also has some software recommendations.

[edited by: bill at 2:04 am (utc) on Mar. 26, 2009]
[edit reason] no links to other forums please [/edit]

I have a version of Vista that you can't password protect folders.

This link does have some good information in it. Thanks.

I will look at the recommedations made here and then see which one is best to use.

Generally, "password protection" is insecure. If you want security you need encryption. Encryption usually works with drives or virtual drives.

Kaled.

You mean I would have to create a drive on the computer and password protect the drive?

Or could I encrypt an entire existing drive? Would I be able to encrypt a folder within a drive that is already there but not the whole drive?

With TrueCrypt would I be able to do the last two things I asked?

Sorry for asking a lot of questions but I don't know a lot about this.

Is encryption a type of password protection?

"Password-protected" typically means that idiots can't access the data but professionals can. Encryption is needed for real security.

With TrueCrypt you can encrypt a whole existing drive or you can create a virtual drive (i.e. a file that is mounted and is accessed as a drive). You cannot encrypt an existing folder, but you can move the folder to an encrypted (virtual) drive.

Kaled.

I think you missed coopster's suggestion of using the built in Windows permissions for users. You can right-click on any file or folder in Vista (or most other versions of Windows) and set the access levels.

If you're leaving your machine accessible to other users on your network and you need secure data then kaled's suggestion of encrypting the data is better.

Programs like TrueCrypt will encrypt whole disks or partitions. It's a very powerful tool, but you're left with an all-or-nothing scenario. If you need just to encrypt a file or folder then software like PGP or the free Gpg4win will handle that for you.

I think there will be other individuals on the network so kaled's suggestion of encrypting the data will be better.

I have to encrypt files or folders so I think the suggestions that you made will really help me. I wanted to say thank you.

When you say encrypt whole disks or partitions do you mean the whole drive?

I am going to read up on what you wrote and I would appreciate if you could please post if anything comes to mind.

I think there will be other individuals on the network so kaled's suggestion of encrypting the data will be better.

Windows has network security for just this purpose. You can limit access to your machine's files and folders while leaving others open.

The trouble is when someone can access your machine physically. Then you have more security concerns.

When you say encrypt whole disks or partitions do you mean the whole drive?

That's what TrueCrypt does. A partition can be made within a drive, but to the system it is made to look like a separate drive.

I am not sure if I can use network security in Windows Vista to limit access to files and folders while leaving others open? I think other versions of Windows have these features more. I have to look at this because I am not very familiar with it.

I also have to look at the software suggestions that you made.

Thank you for explaining TrueCrypt to me.

I am not sure if I can use network security in Windows Vista to limit access to files and folders while leaving others open? I think other versions of Windows have these features more.

No. If anything the newer versions of windows would have more security and sharing options available. It's just management of users and their permissions within the network.

Simply right-click on any file or folder and chose Properties, go to the Security tab and set the permissions there.

Are you on a network of some sort? What type? If you're not seeing these options for user management perhaps your network administrator has turned them off.

I went to Properties and then Security and I set the permissions so that when you click on the folder you can't move further if someone clicks on the folder but that can be changed by the person when they receive the message. They can go into Properties and then Security and change the permissions setting back to what they were.

I think for that reason I may need some sort of password protecting or encrytion software?

If you have everyone running with full Administrator level permissions on the network then you're not going to be able to implement security. The whole idea is to limit certain accounts so that you can control access.

If this is the way it is, is going with software the best thing to do?

If the network is not properly administered then yes.

This is how it is at the moment so I think I am going to look at the software suggestions that you made.

They seem excellent. I wanted to say thank you for the software suggestions that you made and also the advice on managing the settings.

I really don't know a lot about this so you helping me with this and going over the options that I have means a lot.