Simple Question
 

How do I create a pasword protected / encrypted file on my computer?

I want to create a location where I can store all of my important personal information, without having someone else being able to look at it.

Im running winXP pro.


Thanks,

Fox

Go here, it is what I use
http://www.pcug.org.au/~njpayne/

You can use a program called Folder Guard to do what you just described. You can hide a folder to deny access to any folder you wish. Very easy to use program.

you can also put passwords on zip files with winzip, but it's not the most secure way to do it.

Two options come to mind, BestCrypt and WinRar.

BestCrypt uses the BlowFish Algorythim, VERY VERY VEEERRRYYY hard to decrypt. More than likely not decryptable.

2nd, use WinRAR, create a RAR archive, compress is with the "Store" option, with a password including letters (both cases), numbers, and symbols at least 8 characters. Even the best RAR cracking utilities will have an extremely hard time decrypting a RAR file that does not use compression (store). To be able to hack such a file, you can only use the brute-force method; brute force'ing a RAR will take FOREVER, literally. The way that the new WinRAR makes the archive, the cracking utilities can only check 100-300 brute force attempts per second. If you make your password >8 char, up/low case, numbers, and special characters, you're looking at (26x26x10x16)^8 or over 1.87^40th.
At 300 brute-force attemps per sec, you're looking at 1.29^32 years.

;)

-SF