Thursday, May 10, 2007

A simple way to keep your files secured

If you work on a shared computer, then there is always a threat of loosing important personal information on your computer to others.

Windows XP has a very simple built-in secured tool to encrypt your important files, which will be not available to other users of your computer. Here is how?

  • For encryption: Right click on file name > Properties > General Tab > Advanced button > Check the option "Encrypt content to secure data". Multiple files / folders can be encrypted in one go.
  • For giving permission to any other user to access an encrypted file: Right click on file name > Properties > General Tab > Advanced button > Details > Add (whichever user you like).
  • To stand-out the excrypted files: Open Explorer > Tools Menu > Folder Options > View Tab > Advanced setting box > Select "Show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color". This will change the color of the name of all the encrypted files so as to enable you to recognize them easily.

For more advanced encryption: You can Download True Crypt from PC World, which is a free, open-source encryption program that lets you place files and folders in "safes" of any size.


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