Password protection

[derekpara]

Is there any way of password protecting a single Word document or folder with My Documents ?

Thanks. Derek

[derekpara]

Ooops, that should have been......... within My Documents.

[saxy_jag]

Don't think there is. You'll have to open the document, then 'save as'. You'll get a button marked 'save options' and there should be the option to save with a password, either to open or to modify.

As far as I'm aware, you can't add passwords at folder level.

[beso]

If you really want to protect your documents go for http://www.truecrypt.org/

[fo3nix]

This question has two types of answers, depending on whom you're trying to keep the documents secret from.

If you're keeping them secret from someone equivalent to your kid brother, then programs like Word usually have an option to add a password when you save them, as saxy_jag says.

However, this offers next to no security if you're trying to keep secrets from the likes of the NSA. To do this, you require proper, tried and tested encryption. GnuPG is about the best there is, and works well, but it's a little complicated.

TrueCrypt also works well, but the developers are a little 'dubious'. It's also a little more complicated than required.

I can recommend this free program:

http://www.axantum.com/AxCrypt/

To use it, you simply have to right-click a file, and click the 'encrypt' option, then enter a password. Don't forget the password, because you won't be getting your information back if you do!

As for folders, I'm not sure if AxCrypt can encrypt a folder automatically. If it can, great. If not, you can zip (or compress) the folder, using stuff built into Windows (I think it's in the right-click menu again). This turns the entire folder into a single file, which can easily be turned back into a folder (unzipped, or uncompressed). Then simply use AxCrypt on the zip file.

[derekpara]

Thank you all for your very heplful answers.

What I want to do is protect a Word document with my ever increasing and confusing passwords and
'memorable' words. Is this a wise thing to do or not ? Can you suggest a safer method ?

Thanks, again.
Derek

[fo3nix]

I see.

I would suggest you use KeePass:

http://keepass.info/news/n090606_1.16.html

It's a simple program for storing passwords and other information associated with those passwords (memorable words, etc.). You simply have to choose one password for the file it creates, and your passwords will be very safe.

[derekpara]

Done and dusted. It seems great.

Thanks fo3nix.

Derek

[fo3nix]

I'd strongly recommend you create a strong password (since all your other passwords depend on it), and store that file in other places. Copy to it other hard drives, store it on a flash drive, or something.