How To Set Password For Folder In Windows 7

Once y'all fix a Windows password, everything should exist safe and secure, but unfortunately that's not the example. While a Windows login password offers a bones level of protection to go along your files rubber from others who share your computer, risks still grow.

If your laptop is stolen, the thief can kicking up your computer from a removable device and access your files. Or, they tin can remove the hard disk drive, install information technology on another computer, and gain access to all of your files and personal data.

Use encryption to countersign protect a folder or a file

The most straightforward style to encrypt your folders (and all the files in them) is to use Windows' congenital-in folder encryption. Here's how to encrypt a file or binder in Windows 11, 10, 8, or vii:

Navigate to the folder or file you want to encrypt.
Right-click on the item, click Properties, then click Advanced.
Check Encrypt contents to secure information. Click OK, then click Utilise.
Windows and then asks if you want to encrypt only the file or its parent folder and all the files within that equally well. Opt for total-binder encryption to exist safe.
And so, when you navigate to the encrypted folder, you'll see a small yellow lock on the file icon. When y'all add together new content to that folder, it will automatically be encrypted as well.

Windows file encryption protects your files confronting anyone who gets their hands on your computer. The encryption is tied to your Windows account, then when you're logged in, the operating system automatically decrypts your files. If someone were to log in through some other account, they wouldn't be able to access files that were encrypted under your username.

But since your files are accessible through your business relationship, if someone gets unauthorized admission to your computer while you're logged in, this encryption is useless. This is where a strong login password tin keep y'all safety.

Regular Windows encryption will take you merely then far, because information technology'due south piece of cake to become around it by gaining access to your user account. If a cybercriminal manages to hack your account or obtain your password, they'll have full access to your files.

Proceed your data safe with Avast BreachGuard. If your passwords or other personal data are e'er leaked online, BreachGuard will warn you ASAP. That style, yous tin can regain command of your accounts before anyone has the chance to log in with your credentials.

Use password protection software

Unlike Windows' own file encryption engineering science, third-party password protection confined access to files and folders regardless of which user account is logged in. These tools offering more than security than built-in Windows security features and are highly recommended for sensitive data.

Countersign protect folders in Windows x and eleven

Folder Lock is 1 content protection feature for Windows worth looking at. Folder Lock makes information technology easy to put a password on a folder, and information technology can countersign protect and encrypt files and folders at blazing speeds. The software uses Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 256-chip keys to proceed your data condom — the same level of encryption you'll find with many powerful VPNs, like Avast SecureLine VPN.

The Folder Lock file encryption program for Windows 10

Folder Lock uses a master password to control locked content. You lot can as well create a "Locker," a secured folder on the drive to house specified content. And you lot tin can assign a unique countersign and configure the maximum disk space for each Locker.

Folder Lock comes with a powerful file shredder and a cloud-based backup solution as well. The demo is free, while the full-version is $39.95.

Countersign protect folders in Windows 7 & eight

My Lockbox is a lightweight utility with an easy-to-use interface that works for Windows XP, Vista, and Windows seven — information technology'south also compatible with Windows 10 and 11. After installation, the tool volition ask you to fix a location for your locked folder.

All locked folders volition exist subconscious on your drive until yous unlock them. My Lockbox is free and resource-light, making information technology an ideal solution for older computers or operating systems.

Passwords are almost always the weakest link in a security chain. A password strength checker can exist of great utilise hither. Online resources like The Password Meter and my1login are good tools.

While strong countersign protection will be plenty for most users, if yous take sensitive data, then more advanced methods such as third-party encryption tools can be used to safeguard information.

Use total encryption software to secure files and folders

Across regular password protection, you can also apply disk-encryption software that offers more robust security. Full-encryption tools block even the most avant-garde cold-boot and brute-force attacks, which try to crack passwords and encryption keys using different combinations.

7-Zero

vii-Zippo is free, open source software that tin can exist used on whatsoever computer, and virtually any Windows arrangement. It is substantially a file archiver that uses high compression and stiff AES-256 encryption.

Your files are compressed and encrypted, and so when you go to access them, y'all just need to decompress the file offset. Yep, it's an extra step, merely a small price to pay for high security. To secure your data with vii-Nothing, follow these steps:

Download the latest version of 7-Zip and install it.
In your Windows directory, select 7-Zip File Manager.
From the 7-Zip control console, select the file or folder you'd like to protect and click the Add together button.
Choose your pinch options (see image below).
1. Enter the name for your encrypted file.
2. Nether the Encryption department, gear up a strong password for encrypting and decrypting.
3. We recommend setting your compression level to Loftier and your compression method to AES-256.
4. Click OK.

Your file or binder is now compressed, encrypted, and protected. Decompressing is just as simple:

From the 7-Cipher command panel, select the file or folder you'd similar to open.
Click the Excerpt push.
In the dialogue box, enter the password. Then click OK.
Your file or folder will decompress and open for you.

VeraCrypt

With support for AES, Snake, and TwoFish keys, VeraCrypt is a free, cantankerous-platform data security tool that can encrypt files very effectively. VeraCrypt comes with full disk encryption but can encrypt at the volume (binder) level as well. Users can determine whether they desire specific folders encrypted or entire systems.

VeraCrypt may seem intimidating, only information technology'southward really quite unproblematic once you lot go the hang of it. The software works similarly to the Daemon tools that can create a virtual CD bulldoze on your computer.

Download the setup file for Windows and install the software, so follow these instructions:

To outset, you demand to create a volume, which is essentially an encrypted binder to house your data. Click on Create Volume.
Select Create an encrypted file container and click Next.

VeraCrypt lets you create a normal, visible container or an invisible one. For our example, nosotros'll choose Standard VeraCrypt volume, but select whichever pick is best for you.
Click Select File and navigate to where you want to store your encrypted container. Click Next.
Now choose your preferred encryption method. We recommend AES-256, some of the strongest encryption used today. Then click Next.
Annotation how much space you want the encrypted folder to accept. 10 MB should be enough, but if you have multimedia files, you may demand more space.
Finally, enter the password you want to use for your volume (binder) and click Next. Brand certain your password is strong.

VeraCrypt is now set to create your container. Remarkably, the tool can use random mouse movements to create your encryption cardinal and encrypt the folder. Move your mouse around a lot because that makes the encryption cardinal stronger — exercise this until the bar at the lesser reaches the end. Then click Format.

Using random mouse movements to create an encryption key in VeraCrypt for Windows

Your showtime encrypted book should now be sitting in its designated folder.

To add files or folders to your encrypted container, follow these steps:

To mount your book, choose a drive number from any i of the drives available on the VeraCrypt dwelling screen.
Click on any of the letters in your highlighted volume name, click Select File, and navigate to the folder where you saved your encrypted container.
Click Open to select the book.
Next, click Mount to mount the volume to the selected drive. Enter your countersign and click OK. Your container is ready.

Double-click the mounted drive to open another window of the container. You should also run across the container in This PC forth with your other drives.

A mounted encrypted drive in VeraCrypt for Windows

Now, copy the content to your new encrypted "drive," click dismount to close the folder, and encrypt it over again.

The difference between countersign protection and encryption

Countersign protection is similar locking something in a prophylactic, like a highly sensitive document. Encryption is similar rearranging all the letters in a document and so that they tin can only exist placed dorsum in the correct gild if you accept a special decoder fundamental.

With countersign protection, knowing the countersign is literally the key. That'south why password protection is sometimes referred to every bit a form of noesis-based hallmark. In one case you know how to password protect a folder, anyone who wants to access it must know the password equally well.

If you need a physical key, like an actual key or a special USB bulldoze, to access a hugger-mugger document, this would exist a form of possession-based hallmark. If the key were your fingerprint or face, yous would be using inherence-based authentication, because you're using something that is inherent to you and you alone. These factors are of import in two-factor authentication.

Encryption scrambles a certificate's data and so that it looks like a wall of random characters. To access the document, yous need to have a decryption primal. Unencrypted documents are stored commonly in plaintext, and anyone tin read them.

In the case of file and binder encryption in Windows, the "fundamental" means existence logged in to your account equally the correct user. Even on the same computer, documents encrypted by one user are unreadable on some other user account.

Countersign encryption is a tertiary option that combines password protection and encryption. If someone has the correct password to unlock the file or binder, they still won't be able to read it if they're not logged in as the authorized user.

Differences between files that are password protected, encrypted, and password encrypted.

Why password protect files?

You should countersign protect files because if you share your figurer with others, someone might accidentally delete or modify an important file, or even share a individual folder. You might even make the disquisitional fault yourself, accidentally sending sensitive information to the wrong person.

Sharing a computer is non a trouble if you add a password to your well-nigh sensitive files. Entering a password every time you access that file may tiresome you downwardly a bit, just the added security is worth it.

E'er use stiff passwords. Avast's free random password generator will instantly create a unique and difficult-to-fissure countersign whenever y'all need one.

And you tin always use Windows to encrypt an entire binder, as described above. Knowing how to countersign protect a binder and how to encrypt your files is key to making sure your content is locked upwards tight.

Managing files and passwords

Now that y'all know how to password protect and encrypt your files and folders in Windows, all that's left is keeping your passwords safe and post-obit good security practices.

Back up your information

Consider what might happen if you lost your master password, if your encryption software got corrupted, or if the files themselves got lost. Backing up your data regularly and using a password manager can help ensure that never happens. You tin can even clone your entire hard drive to an external storage device.

Some of the tools mentioned above, similar Binder Lock, come with their ain cloud-based data backup solutions. Simply you can employ Microsoft'due south OneDrive or the free Google Drive too.

Create potent passwords

The biggest challenge with strong passwords is remembering them. But y'all're setting yourself up for potential data theft if you create ane password to utilize beyond all of your accounts. The common alternative — creating simple, easy to remember passwords — is only every bit bad.

Weak and mutual passwords are easy to hack using programs that cycle through different primal combinations at unfathomable speed. These countersign cracking techniques are highly advanced. In 2022, hackers created a calculator cluster that guesses passwords at a charge per unit of 350 billion per 2d — and things accept only evolved since then.

That'due south why long, unique, and difficult-to-gauge passwords are one of the best means to protect your files and devices against hackers.

Keep your new passwords condom and secure

Now that y'all've encrypted your files with unique and hard-to-guess passwords, protect all your passwords and accounts with Avast BreachGuard. With 24/7 dark web monitoring, BreachGuard will alarm you if your passwords or other personal data are ever leaked, helping y'all to respond ASAP and stay ahead of anyone looking to compromise your accounts.