Folder Guard

   I love this program.
   I am certain the actual coding behind Folder Guard is very complicated, but I can tell you its operation is simple. And what it does is something every one of us has said we wished we had at one time or another: a way to protect certain files from anyone who might use our computer.
   Simply put, Folder Guard denies access and/or hides individual folders (or directories) from anyone who does not have a password. To my mind, "hides" is the key. If you tell Folder Guard to hide a folder, it just simply isn't there. No one can see it, much less go browsing into it.
   Here's how this very useful program works:
   You start Folder Guard and it asks you for a password. Once you tpe in the password, you get an Explorer-like display like the one on

the right. The green check marks mean there is full access to the folder that is checked.
   From here, you can set attributes for the folder in two areas, access and visibility.
   An individual folder can have full access, read-only access or no access at all. With read-only access anyone can read files in the folder, but cannot change them, delete them, copy them or the like. With no access, you cannot even read the files in the folder.
   With the access restrictions, you can still "see" the folders in the Explorer or by using "My Computer." However, you can also set the visibility attributes to restricted or hidden.
With restricted visibility, you can see the folder itself, but not the files in the folder nor any subfolders. (An exception to this is if you designate a subfolder to be visible.)
   Hidden means just that. You cannot see the folder nor anything within the folder.
   The really nice thing about Golder Guard is how easy it is to use. You merely select a folder or folders and set the attributes with your mouse. That is all there is to it. No muss, no fuss. And it works perfectly.
   What would you use FolderGuard for? Lists of credit card numbers, passwords to various web sites, business-related spreadsheets you'd rather the kids not see. You name it, you can guard it from prying eyes.
   But if you want to get to those files, you just start FolderGuard, change the attributes back, close FolderGuard and use the previously-restricted files. How long does it take to do this? About 15 seconds.
   Which is what is really nice about the program. It does its thing easily and without a lot of complications. How nice. If you ever worried about someone getting "into" your computer or your private files, FolderGuard will ease your mind. Easily.

Link to the FolderGuard web site