Password hard disk folders using HTML?

[Deanodarlo]

In order for personal security reasons I wish to add passwords to selected folders on my hard disk (i'm not trying to hide porn - honest!).

I know there are third party utilities to do this, but they all cost ridiculous amounts of cash for such a simple feature.

Under win98 it gives you the option of customizing folders using HTML, and then opens up the folders script using notepad. Surely there is a way of editing this in order to add a password feature, but unfortunatly I don't know what values need changing as i'm no HTML expert.

Anyone out there know the answer?.....It would be much appreciated.

Thanks to anyone who can help - you guys are the best!

 

[yos]

can you use java script? if so, do a search for "the Joy of Java Script". they have a script you can use to password protect pages. I've used it and it works well.... on web pages that is... it may be worth a shot...

 

[jaywallen]

Deanodarlo,

I'm not sure I understand. You're trying to prevent other users with direct access to your system from seeing the contents of certain folders on your hard drive? If so, I don't see how Java Script and HTML can help. They'd only be able to keep out people who were trying to access those folders through a Web server, wouldn't they?

Unless I'm misreading your situation, I think you need to compress those folders to an password-protected archive OR you need to encrypt them. WinZip or PowerArchiver will do the former. The latter can be done by a freeware utility called PGP (Pretty Good Privacy). It's available here, at the MIT download site. PGP also does a TON of other useful stuff, including wiping files so they can't be recovered, encrypting email, etc.

Sorry if I've misunderstood. Hope you find what you're looking for.

Regards,
Jim

 

[Ladi]

I had no idea free and shareware was "outrageously expensive":

FolderLock: $12
The Vault: $10
Proctector: $10
SecretFolders: $12

are just a few I could find on a quick search.

There's also free encryption utilities you can use such as PGP

~Ladi

 

[Deanodarlo]

Ok, so I exaggerated the shareware cost - sorry and point taken. I think that line came out because I've purchased a few programs recently and they add up to a fair wack.

Going back to the HTML - it's not just for the internet. Windows 98 can use this code to display and customize both folders and desktops, the former by selecting "view" then "customize this folder..." from explorer.

Anyway, thanks to you all for replying - much appreciated.

 

[kramp]

even if you were succesful blocking out people w/ the java and html scrippting, wouldn't they be able to boot into dos/load ms-dos and view all those directories w/ no problem, and even copy the files they wanted into unlocked directories? i think the best way would have to be the encryption.

 

[jaywallen]

Deanodarlo,

AFAIK, you can customize to your heart's content, but that won't prevent any other user in Win9X from changing explorer settings and seeing whatever is in any folder -- unless the folder is encrypted.

Regards,
Jim

 

[Deanodarlo]

Yep Jim and others, you're right - upon reflection it does seem a pretty daft idea. Looks like another shareware splash out is on the way for folder encryption.

The whole reason I wrote the question was that I found a web page entitled "How to password protect folders in Win98 without using third party software".

The page refused to load fully, and stopped at the key section explaining what HTML code needed changing in order to add password features to folders - hence this post.

Just goes to show you shouldn't believe everything you read on the web.............

 

[jaywallen]

Deanodarlo,

I don't blame you for getting excited. It would be quite a coup if someone found a way to make Win9X secure that was intrinsic to the OS itself.

>> The page refused to load fully, and stopped at the key section explaining what HTML code needed changing in order to add password features to folders - hence this post. <<

I know you're disappointed, but there is something kind of funny about guys who claim to know how to write HTML capable of securing a Windows folder being unable to write the HTML reuired to display that code on a Web page.

The shareware items mentioned will undoubtedly do the job for you, but you might consider having a look at PGP. It's free. And it does a lot more than encrypt folders. It integrates very nicely into Outlook Express, but will work with any email client for encrypting / decrypting email.

Anyway, I hope you'll find a solution that's easy to work with.

Regards,
Jim