subject: Password-Protect Documents on your Computer [print this page] Article source: http://www.windows7password.net/password-protect-documents-on-your-computer/
There are many ways to protect or limit the access to a file on your computer. Applications like MS Word, open Office and MS Excel have a password protection feature found in their settings. If you are not convinced with the protection offered, you can hide the document in a zip file or any third party program that offers password protection. Just remember to backup the confidential file, in case you forget your password or for other emergency situations.
Protection Using Data Compression Programs
Some programs do not only password protection, but also files and folder to compress so that they consume less space inside your computer. Programs are very useful data compression, especially when delivered via email files. Due to their properties to multiple files and folders safely send without limit exceeded the facility in a single E-Mail message.
WinZip
Protecting documents and folders with a password is easy using WinZip, one of the world's premier data compression programs. You can simply toggle on the password feature when you are about to compress a batch of files. Once the files are compressed, they can't be opened until the password you set is supplied.
Procedure:
1. Let's say the files and folders you want to password protect are in My Documents. Double click My Documents on the desktop.
2. Right click on a file, which brings out a list of options.
3. Select "Compress to .zip." This automatically creates a new zip folder.
4. Right click on another file then select Copy.
5. Go to the zip folder via WinZip then right click on the empty white space (the section where the compress filed is stored). Select Paste.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for all the files and folders you want to compress and password protect.
7. When all the files are in, select File on the top left portion of the WinZip screen.
8. Click on Add a Password.
9. Supply the password for the Zip folder then confirm it.
Zip files are versatile. You can compress any folder or file that you choose, even the My Documents folder. It is a good move when your computer's memory is nearly filled up, given the zip file's space-saving features.
WinRar
WinRar, much like WinZip, compresses files and supports a wide array of file extensions. It can also restore damaged archives and is more resistant to file corruption than most data compression programs, which makes it a pretty popular. Best of all, you can get it for free on the internet.
WinRar works just like WinZip. The procedure for password protecting files is exactly the same, only you have the choice of turning the compressed folder into a RAR file. WinRAR appears to be the best choice for data compression protection, as its security features give it a distinct edge.
Built-In Security Feature
Password protection is used as a standard feature for programs to produce documents. Access is easy, because you must only search the menus. If you find on the menu bar, aimlessly on the products you'll most certainly on the safety feature stumble.
PDF Files
The PDF file, with a common platform for the production of documents, is blessed with a password protection feature. In addition their security measures can be strengthened if more coupled with programs from third-party. No wonder that the PDF format is in occupations where much confidentiality involved is preferred.
Procedure:
Open the PDF file in Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Click on the File menu on the top left portion of the screen.
Select Document Security. Another screen will then appear.
Hit on Security Options then select Acrobat Standard Security.
Once done, mark the box beside "Password Required to Open Document."
Place your password on the space provided.
In the same screen, you will find an option for placing a password when modifying the first password or permissions. Supply a password if you choose.
Click OK. A screen will appear asking you to confirm both passwords.
Retype both passwords. Take note, the passwords are case-sensitive so be careful.
If you want to strengthen the Acrobat Reader's password, you can download third party programs on the Internet safer. These programs can encrypt the file and easily, except another layer of password protection offers parts of the document.
MS Word and MS Excel
Similar to the menu Setup MS Office programs so that the security feature is found practically in the same place. Once in security, you can set the password for the document. Ensure that one hard to crack, to guess maybe random numbers and letters or something, that you to do anything the password, so is is impossible.
Procedure:
Open a new document in either MS Word or MS Excel.
After finishing your document, click on Tools, which is found on the top portion of your screen.
Select Options. A smaller screen will appear containing several tabs.
Click on the Security Tab.
Place corresponding passwords for opening and modifying the file.
Keep clicking OK until you are back to your document.
Aside from placing a password, you can hide parts of the document by changing their font color to white. You can also toggle on the other security settings to totally restrict the access to your file.
To Serve and Password-Protect
The password can a basic form of protection, but over the years it has proven to be effective file security be. Also correctly to guess a password is, by all means, no easy feat, and it is the way to protect E-Mail account or your credit card information. Send your files the same amount of security through password protection from them.
Notes
The best way to protect your computer is never allow others to use it. Even you set a windows login password, it can be reset.
