How to Password Protect your Files and Folders

In order to restrict access to important or confidential files and folders, you can set a password on them. However, you should always save a file that will contain the different passwords that you use, in an Excel sheet for example, so that you do not forget them. Also, always make a back up of those files and folders in a single password protected password external drive, so that you do not lose them in case of system corruption or infection.

How to password protect a Word document

Windows provides you with the necessary tools for this process.

• 1. After creating the Word document, click “Save as” in the “File” options.
• 2. Go to the "Tools" option and select "Security Options".
• 3. In the field labeled "Password to open", enter the password of your choice.

• 4. Then, if you also want to set a password to modify the file, enter another password in the field labeled "Password to modify"�.
• 5. If the file DOES NOT require any changes, and you want it to open in a read only format, check the box labeled "Read-only recommended"�.
• 6. When done, click "OK"�.

Password protection on Windows 3.x, Windows 95 and Windows 98

Windows 3.x, Windows 95 and Windows 98 are not set for password protection of your files and folders. If you are running under those operating systems, you will need to download a program that can handle this task for you.

DLOCK2 2.01
Download Link: http://www.soft32.com/download_104133.html

Secure Code 2.0
Download Link: http://www.bluechillies.com/download/12870.html

Password protection on Windows XP

This section will tell you how to set a password for the folders on your Windows XP, using different user accounts.

• 1. Right-click on the folder that you wish to password protect and choose the option “Properties”
• 2. Select the "Advanced" option and check the box labeled "Encrypt contents to secure data"�
• 3. You will be prompted to choose if you want to apply the changes to the folder only or to the subfolders. I will suggest you to choose the option "Apply changes to this folder only" for now.
• 4. Save the changes by clicking "Apply"� and "OK"

Password protection on Windows XP Home Edition

• 1. Right-click on the folder that you wish to password protect and choose the option “Properties”
• 2. Select the tab labeled "Sharing"� and check the box labeled "Make this folder private"
• 3. Save the changes by clicking "Apply"� and "OK".

Password protection with a compress tool

Compress tools, like WinZip or WinRAR, also allow you to set a password to your compressed files/folders. You can get these compressed tools from the following links:

WinZip
Download Link: http://www.vodahost.com/winzip.htm

WinRAR
Download Link: http://www.soft82.com/download/Windows/WinRAR

How to password protect with WinRAR

• 1. Open WinRAR, choose the folder or file that you want to compress by clicking the "Add" option.
• 2. Select the "Advanced" tab and choose "Set Password"� option.
• 3. Once you have finished entering your password, you can choose to encrypt the file name by checking this option.
• 4. When you are done, click "OK"� and apply the changes by clicking "OK" again in the Archive parameters window.