How do protect folder with password

Password-protecting a zipped file is a good solution if your version of Windows does not support password protection. If you put the files you'd like to protect in a zip file, you can then apply a password. When you hide a folder or file in Windows, the folder or file does not appear in the directory list, unless the Don't show hidden files, folders, or drives setting is unchecked. Right-click on the file or folder that you want to hide.

Select Properties. Click the General tab, under the Attributes section, check Hidden. Click Apply. If the file or folder remains visible in the directory, you will need to enable another setting. To see your hidden files or folder, repeat the instructions above, but click Show hidden files, folders, and drives. Although Microsoft has taken away the ability to password-protect a folder, you can still keep your confidential information private by using either a password-protected zipped folder or hiding files and folders so they don't appear in the directory list.

All rights reserved. Neither Crucial nor Micron Technology, Inc. Micron, the Micron logo, Crucial, and the Crucial logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Micron Technology, Inc. If your laptop is stolen, for example, the thief can boot up your computer from a removable device to access your files.

Or, they can simply remove the hard disk, install it in another computer, and immediately gain access to all of your files and personal data. Password protection is a lot like locking something in a safe — for instance, a highly sensitive document.

To access that document, you must know the correct combination. Knowledge is literally the key. This is why password protection is sometimes more formally referred to as a form of knowledge-based authentication. You need to know the password to enter. If you required a physical token like, say, an actual key or a special USB drive to access our secret document, then this would be a form of possession-based authentication. Encryption is sort of like taking our secret document and scrambling all the letters in that document so it is virtually unreadable by anyone not authorized to read it.

Anyone can read it. To see the document in its original form, the user must provide a key of sorts that unscrambled the message. Even on the same computer, the secret document may as well be gibberish to a different Windows user. Password encryption is a third option that combines password protection and encryption. The primary benefit of using both is having two layers of security. If you share your computer with others, there is always a chance of human error — the accidental deletion of an important document, the mistaken modification of a critical file, the accidental sharing of a private folder, etc.

Sharing sensitive information over email with the wrong recipients is an unfortunate if not entirely too common source of data breaches. Sadly, that spreadsheet contains personal information belonging to a lot of people.

If it can happen to them, it can happen to you. One way to deal with these risks is to add a password to your most sensitive files, one-by-one. Sharing a computer becomes a worry-free situation after that, and sending email attachments will be less of a nail-biter, too.

Yes, the requirement to enter a password every time you access that file may slow you down a bit, but the peace of mind is undoubtedly worth it. Just remember to always use strong passwords. In fact, click on over to the free Avast Random Password Generator whenever you need one, and instantly get a unique, near-uncrackable password you can use immediately.

Another way to deal with this is to use your Windows software to encrypt an entire folder. This is an easy process to implement and to use. There are also third-party tools you can use for full encryption. To encrypt a file or folder in Windows 7 , 8, or 10, follow these steps:.

Right click on the item. Click Properties, then click the Advanced button. Check Encrypt contents to secure data. Windows then asks whether you wish to encrypt the file only, or its parent folder and all the files within it as well. We recommend you opt for full folder encryption, just to be on the safe side. Now, once you navigate to the encrypted folder, you will see a small yellow lock on the file icon. Also, when you add new content to that folder, it will automatically be encrypted too.

To be clear, Windows file encryption protects your files against anyone who gets their hands on your computer. The encryption is tied to your Windows account, so when you are logged in, the files decrypt on the fly by the operating system. However, if someone were to log in through another account, they would not be able to access files that were encrypted under your username. This is why it is critical to create a strong login password in the first place. Power users can also use this method by LaptopMag.

Someone need only log in with your account to access your content. Read on to find out how to keep your files safe should your account be hacked. Insert a USB flash drive to your computer, and follow the on-screen instructions to create your encryption certificate and export to the USB drive.

Note: The final step is optional, but if you skip it, you run the risk of losing access to your encrypted files. For you. World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options.

Get the Insider App. Click here to learn more. A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation. Good Subscriber Account active since Shortcuts. Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. It often indicates a user profile. Why is password protection important?

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