Protect computer files

[alintatoc]

Hi

I would like to know which is the best method to protect the files on the computer?
Adding the password from windows or should I use something different.
I want to assure myself that in case somebody uses the pc can't access the files.

[solarfox]

There are only two sure ways to keep your files from being accessed by other people who have physical access to your computer:

(1) Keep all of your pr0n -- I mean, your important files on a memory stick or portable hard drive which you carry on your person at all times and never let out of your sight.

(2) Use an encryption program like TrueCrypt to create an encrypted volume on your hard drive (or encrypt the entire drive) and make sure the password isn't something anyone who knows you can guess. Then keep anything you don't want people accessing in the encrypted volume.

Yes, setting up the Windows username and password will probably keep your friends from casually browsing through your stuff, and might even discourage your mother from snooping through your PC the next time she comes over to visit... but anyone who knows what they're doing can get around that in 5 minutes, so if you have "secret stuff" you don't want people to find, and your PC is commonly used by other people when you're not around, encrypting the data or physically removing it from their vicinity is, in my opinion at least, the only way to be sure.

[hech54]

Oh good to know..... Now I can protect all of my church hymns and pictures of puppies and kittens playing with children in the park.

[jman98]

Individual files could also be protected via PGP or the free GPG program. It depends on exactly how many files you want to protect whether you need to consider TrueCrypt to get a whole volume or drive protected or just use GPG or PGP for a small number of files.