How do I password protect my files and folders in Windows?

[Jennypliskin]

How do I password protect my files and folders in Windows?

[horace1]

Truecrypt was one of the main tools for encryting folders and disks but has been recently winthdrawn.
if you have suitable versions of Windows there is BitLocker

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows7/products/features/bitlocker

an open source alternative is AxCrypt

http://www.axantum.com/axcrypt/

the following discuss alternatives

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2304851/so-long-truecrypt-5-encryption-alternatives-that-can-lock-down-your-data.html

http://alternativeto.net/software/truecrypt/

[rollerbladegirl]

If you have Windows XP Professional beyond Service pack 2 you might as well give up on it.

If you have Windows 7 beyond Service Pack 1 you might as well give up on it.

If you have *any* version of *non-business-level* Windows and your version is beyond 7 sp1 then you might as well give up on it.

If your version of Windows is NT 4, or 2000, or[*] Business Server up to 2012 and maybe (maybe) past that for Businesses, then get an "Administrator' s Companion" book for that version and read it carefully.


I speak from working in a hard-core system security environment and I know whereof I speak.

.

[rollerbladegirl]

Oops. Sorry. I missed one. Windows 10 is advertised as being for businesses. Therefore even though they say that; If you have Windows 10 then you might as well give up on it.

[Naheedmir]

Click on Properties of the folder you want to password protected. Then click on advanced > Encrypt contents to secure data> Apply. You'll be prompted to back up your encryption key.

[ScottishKing]

Axcrypt is good and free, Steganos is fantastic if you want to have a separate "safe" folder you open and store the files in - that way no one can even see them! You have to pay some $$$ for steganos but it's super secure.

axcrypt.net
steganos.com

Just don't forget the password you use to encrypt the files!