File & folder encryption / password protection

Azza · 28 Feb 2010 at 16:38

What do you all use to to encrypt / password text & MS word doc files?

And folders in general. Preferably a free program.

Thanks

SiriusB · 28 Feb 2010 at 17:41

People recommend TrueCrypt on here a lot. Never used it myself though. Methinks I probably should on my laptop though!

theheyes · 28 Feb 2010 at 18:08

Truecrypt is great, although I never really bother with a container and just go with full disk encryption.

Masterdog · 28 Feb 2010 at 18:39

Folder Guard is good if you want to encrypt a folder that'll ask for a password when you click on it. It's not free though. Truecrypt is the main free player, and the encryption is a lot stronger, but it's a bit (though not much) more work to open a folder.

demonoid-gnome · 28 Feb 2010 at 21:57

I`ve been using Safehouse Explorer for all my USB pen drives. You can use it on system drives too. It`s easy to set up, and seems to work ok.

Paul11 · 28 Feb 2010 at 22:28

word has its own password protection for documents

otherwise, truecrypt

SiriusB · 28 Feb 2010 at 23:00

I believe the password protection can be removed fairly easily on Word documents - especially if you really want in!

tntcoder · 28 Feb 2010 at 23:26

SiriusB said:
I believe the password protection can be removed fairly easily on Word documents - especially if you really want in!

This is no longer true for Office 2007, they actually did a pretty decent job on it this time around and it's fine to use

Early versions though, don't go anywhere near office document encryption.

Sudden · 28 Feb 2010 at 23:28

Masterdog said:
Folder Guard is good if you want to encrypt a folder that'll ask for a password when you click on it. It's not free though. .

Ah that program annoyed me to no end many years ago. Presuming I haven't got the name mixed up. Used the 30 day free trial about 8 or so years ago. After the trial expired, I couldn't access the folders I had encrypted :s Wouldn't let me until I paid for it. Thankfully I was just testing it out so didn't encrypt too many folders and nothing important.

SiriusB · 28 Feb 2010 at 23:29

tntcoder said:
This is no longer true for Office 2007, they actually did a pretty decent job on it this time around and it's fine to use Early versions though, don't go anywhere near office document encryption.

That's good to know!

Never needed to use it though

Azza · 2 Mar 2010 at 02:04

Errr?

How come with TrueCrypt you have to re-mount the file?

How am I meant to get the file back without having it on the system not in the encrypted volume? Is it me or is that a bit silly...having to have the file on your PC unprotected just so you can protect it again? :confused:

fornowagain · 2 Mar 2010 at 02:25

You mount the Truecrypt file and it just acts as a drive. Leave it mounted all day, save to and from it etc. Even mount from a server or dropbox. When you've finished you dismount the volume/drive and any files stored on it are encrypted and protected. To get at the files you have to remount and use the password.