protecting folders with passwords?

[miles01110]

Hi- I share my computer(s) quite often with others at work, and would like to keep folders of private documents off-limits. Is there a way (or program) that allows me to set a password for certain folders/apps? Without switching users, that is.

 

[someguy]

Crypt

 

[pianoman]

you can create a disk image, or more accurately a sparse image. a sparse image will only take up however much space the documents inside it take up, as opposed to a disk image, which takes up the same amount of space regardless of what's in it (i.e., a 40GB disk image could take up 40GB even if it is empty; a 40GB sparse image with 20GB of files in it will only take up 20GB, but has the capacity to hold 40GB).

go to Disk Utility and click on "New Image" at the top. choose a name and then choose what size you want it. under encryption, choose "AES-128 (recommended)" and then choose "sparse image" under format. the encryption part is the part that will lock the image until you open it - when the image is being created, it will ask for a password.

this may look like a complicated procedure, but it really is not.

 

[Lau]

Pianoman's advice above is spot on, but I'd also add to remember to untick the box "Add to keychain" when creating the password, otherwise it'll open without the password if someone clicks on it. Unticking the box means it will always prompt for a password when opening it.

 

[miles01110]

I created the image and it did ask for a password when creating it, but every time I open it, I am not prompted for a password...

 

[FFTT]

I would strongly consider PGP Desktop.

http://www.pgp.com/

Encrypt files create encrypted disks, encrypt chat messages, everything.

A wonderful product!

You can also use Stuffit Deluxe to password protect stuffed files and folders.

 

[~Shard~]

I would recoemmend Stuffit Deluxe or Crypt for hiding your porn from your co-workers.

 

[miles01110]

Crypt would be ok, but I don't want to encrypt each file individually, but whole folders containing a few hundred emails, for example.

 

[Lau]

I created the image and it did ask for a password when creating it, but every time I open it, I am not prompted for a password...

Pianoman's advice above is spot on, but I'd also add to remember to untick the box "Add to keychain" when creating the password, otherwise it'll open without the password if someone clicks on it. Unticking the box means it will always prompt for a password when opening it.

Did you untick the box?