Microsoft posted 'Private Folder 1.0' to the Web on 6th July as an add-on for Windows,which allowed users to set up a password-protected folder for files they want kept private. What Private Folder does is use file encryption. It basically encrypts the files you put into the folder, so that without a password, no body can read the file (without hacking it with a super-computer).*(see warning 2 below)*
But the software caused alarm among corporate users & responding to pressure from corporate users, Microsoft Friday pulled the free software from the Web on Friday 15th July.
You can still get it - Just 'Google' for Microsoft Private Folder 1.0 and there are umpteen locations where it is still available for download - 1.1 MB.
Have fun. Keep secret folders where you can store all dangerous/sensitive information, and lose it when your hard disk crashes :-).
Even worse the idiots have not provided for backup protection - you put a file in HDD Private Folder which is encrypted, but you cannot take backup of it (encrypted) in FDD or CD. Your backup will be 'unencrypted' - talk about cock-ups.
LOL
But no laughing matter is this - even though no one can open the Private Folder, they can delete it. - As they would say 'mother of all cock-ups'.
So use MS Private Folder or In case you are really interested in a genuine encryption which allows you to encrypt, hide (yeah, encrypt & then hide -- within another encrypted folder - so even if you are 'forced' to give out password, without the second password, they would not get at the hidden files -- even more good, they would not know that there is a hidden folder inside the 'now-open' encrypted folder), decrypt, backup, restore (all encrypted), try the Open Source encryption software from [http://www.truecrypt.org/] 1.3 MB & also there is a nice tutorial.
More important, when you move a file from your folder to open folder, the decryption is on-the-fly, taking place in the RAM (not HDD - so no copy left) and you are safe.
But the software caused alarm among corporate users & responding to pressure from corporate users, Microsoft Friday pulled the free software from the Web on Friday 15th July.
You can still get it - Just 'Google' for Microsoft Private Folder 1.0 and there are umpteen locations where it is still available for download - 1.1 MB.
Have fun. Keep secret folders where you can store all dangerous/sensitive information, and lose it when your hard disk crashes :-).
Even worse the idiots have not provided for backup protection - you put a file in HDD Private Folder which is encrypted, but you cannot take backup of it (encrypted) in FDD or CD. Your backup will be 'unencrypted' - talk about cock-ups.
LOL
But no laughing matter is this - even though no one can open the Private Folder, they can delete it. - As they would say 'mother of all cock-ups'.
So use MS Private Folder or In case you are really interested in a genuine encryption which allows you to encrypt, hide (yeah, encrypt & then hide -- within another encrypted folder - so even if you are 'forced' to give out password, without the second password, they would not get at the hidden files -- even more good, they would not know that there is a hidden folder inside the 'now-open' encrypted folder), decrypt, backup, restore (all encrypted), try the Open Source encryption software from [http://www.truecrypt.org/] 1.3 MB & also there is a nice tutorial.
More important, when you move a file from your folder to open folder, the decryption is on-the-fly, taking place in the RAM (not HDD - so no copy left) and you are safe.
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