How to lock folders with Hide Folders 2009. Using "lock folder" protection method
When you need to protect your data from unauthorized access,
you can use file and folder access control tools. There are embedded
file and folder access control tools in Windows operating systems.
These tools are the complex system of authorizing users and user
groups to access objects on the computer. In short, each Windows
user may have (or don't have) permissions to access files or folders
on the computer. And if a user has permissions to access a certain
folder or file, s/he will get access to this folder (file) right
after logon. But very often users need more flexible access control
management. E.g. you may want to access files only when you need
them, and have these files inaccessible for the rest of time. This
work style with important data may prevent them from accidental
modifications, removing, viruses and other threats.
Hide Folders 2009 application is a current edition of Hide Folders
product line. FSPro Labs has been releasing Hide Folders software
since 2001. This program enables you to protect your folders in
such a way that you can access your data only after entering your
password. A lot of helpful program options let you tune the program
for maximum convenience when protecting folders in Windows.
Protecting folders in Hide Folders 2009 is as easy as in all programs of our Hide Folders product line. You should open Hide Folders main window by running Hide Folders from the Desktop or Windows start menu. Hide Folders main window is protected by password and will not appear unless you enter the correct password. If you just installed Hide Folders 2009 on your computer, you have no password and we recommend you to set the password as soon as it possible.
To lock a folder (file) in Windows with Hide Folders software you should add your folder (file) to the list of protected folders. You can do it using one of the following ways:
- Click Add button in Hide Folders 2009 main window.
- Select File->Add to list from Hide Folders 2009 main menu.
- Drag a folder (file) from Windows Explorer and drop it on Hide Folders 2009 main menu.
- Using Windows Explorer context menu (if you enabled the related integration options in Hide Folders 2009 settings - "Add command Lock with Hide Folders 2009" or "Add command Hide and Lock with Hide Folders 2009"
If you add a folder to the Hide Folders 2009 list using Add button or main menu command, you should set the protection mode right now in Add Object window. If you add a folder to the list of protected object of Hide Folders by drag'n'drop command, the folder will be automatically protected with Hide and lock folder mode.
To lock folders and files Hide Folders 2009 provides you with 2 protection methods:
- Lock (folder or file) — lock a folder or file from all programs and users. This protection mode makes the folder locked (inaccessible). But the folder will be still visible in Windows explorer. It is impossible to open this locked folder or view locked folder contents. You cannot rename locked folder as well.
- Hide and Lock (folder or file) — lock and hide a folder from all programs and users in Windows. This protection mode makes the folder both invisible and locked (inaccessible). The locked folder is not showed in Windows Explorer and other applications, you cannot open it, view its contents or rename it. This is the most popular protection mode to lock folders.
You can change the protection mode for any folder in the Hide Folders list anytime. To change folder protection mode, simply select Protection->Object Properties from Hide Folders 2009 main menu or press Properties button.
After adding folders to the list of Hide Folders protected folders,
you can control access to them. When the computer starts, your folders
are protected and locked according to the assigned protection methods.
When you need to access the locked folders, you should run Hide
Folders 2009 application and input your password. Then press Disable
button to temporary disable folder protection. To make this process
easier and faster, you can use Hide Folders hotkey options. When
you need to enable folder protection again, you should run Hide
Folders 2009 application, input your password and press Enable button.
Or you can use hotkey options as well.
If you forget to enable protection, you may use Hide Folders options
for automatic folder protection. You can set automatic folder protect
on 3 events:
- When a screen saver starts.
- When computer goes to Stand By or Hibernation modes.
- When no user activity was registered during a certain period
of time - this means that if a user didn't touch keyboard or mouse
during e.g. last 10 minutes, the protection will be enabled automatically.
Sometimes you may need to allow certain system or service or other software applications to access the locked folders even when the protection is enabled. In this case you can use Hide Folders 2009 Trusted processes feature. To add an application to the list of trusted processes, select Protection->Trusted processes from Hide Folders main menu. You can select the trusted process from the list of running processes or by specifying the name of the executable file. We recommend you to add to the list of trusted processes your antivirus and backup utilities.
Summary
Hide Folders 2009 lets you easy to protect any folder using "hide and lock folder" and "lock folder" protection modes. In "lock folder" mode, the folder and all its subfolders and child files become locked and inaccessible. In "hide and lock folder" mode, the protected folders become not only locked and inaccessible, but also invisible. You can change the folder protection mode whenever you want. Turning the protection On or Off is performed for all list of protected folders from Hide Folders main window or hot keys. The program is password-protected so your folders are protected with password as well. The protection is automatically enabled at startup and can be enabled automatically if auto-lock folder options are enabled. You can use Trusted processes feature to let your antivirus check the locked files and make backup copies of the protected data.