any way to lock a folder...

[g30ffr3y]

just wondering... file vault isnt really what im looking for... just a way to password a folder that i dont want others to "accidentally" open up...

[MoparShaha]

You can use Disk Utility to make an encrypted image. Make a new imgae, and under "Encryption", chose "AES-128". Now, whenever you want to access your files, you'll have to provide a password to mount the image.

[janey]

and dont forget to select a sparse disk image when needed (one that grows as big as it needs to).

But beware, while the disk image is mounted anyone can access the files.

[Veldek]

Just wondering... isn't this what OS X takes care of? If only you have permission to open the folder then noone else can. Or do you only use one user for different people? Perhaps you should change this. With Panther's fast user switching, it's even more comfortable for everyone to have a working environment on his/her own.

[janey]

Just wondering... isn't this what OS X takes care of? If only you have permission to open the folder then noone else can. Or do you only use one user for different people? Perhaps you should change this. With Panther's fast user switching, it's even more comfortable for everyone to have a working environment on his/her own.

ya sure why not. permissions are awesome, but they can get screwed up :)
if you want to change permissions so only you can read/write/execute, open terminal and type in "chmod 700 " (leave a space) and drag in the folder you want. Alternatively, you can type in "chmod u=rwx,go-rwx " (leave a space again) and drag in the folder.

[oldschool]

If you just need very limited security, try LameSecure from VersionTracker. It just adds a password to the folder you specify...very simple.

[SpaceMagic]

PORN FOLDER!! Remember not to call it "porn" or anything too obvious like, 'nothing interesting folder!" cos your mutti will look..

of course i dont look at porn - its demeaning to women

[portent]

ya sure why not. permissions are awesome, but they can get screwed up :)
if you want to change permissions so only you can read/write/execute, open terminal and type in "chmod 700 " (leave a space) and drag in the folder you want. Alternatively, you can type in "chmod u=rwx,go-rwx " (leave a space again) and drag in the folder.

Better yet, just use the Ownership and Permissions pane in the Get Info window.

[janey]

Better yet, just use the Ownership and Permissions pane in the Get Info window.
bah i hate that pane :D i think its annoying and pointless and easier to do in terminal.

[Hemingray]

PORN FOLDER!! Remember not to call it "porn" or anything too obvious like, 'nothing interesting folder!" cos your mutti will look..

Yeah, seriously... if it's such a "secret" folder then just bury it somewhere, name it something obscure, and be done with it. When you step away from your comp, have a hot corner to activate the password-protected screen saver. If your friends/siblings/parents need to use the comp, enable fast user switching and have a guest account. You can tell I have a bit of experience with this. ;)

[janey]

Yeah, seriously... if it's such a "secret" folder then just bury it somewhere, name it something obscure, and be done with it. When you step away from your comp, have a hot corner to activate the password-protected screen saver. If your friends/siblings/parents need to use the comp, enable fast user switching and have a guest account. You can tell I have a bit of experience with this. ;)
F11

[Krizoitz]

bah i hate that pane :D i think its annoying and pointless and easier to do in terminal.

sounds like you think its a pane in the ass....:D

[Hemingray]

F11

:confused: I dun get it. F11's great for open windows n' stuff, but not for an unattended computer...

[g30ffr3y]

PORN FOLDER!! Remember not to call it "porn" or anything too obvious like, 'nothing interesting folder!" cos your mutti will look..

of course i dont look at porn - its demeaning to women


not pron... dirty minds of macrumors... just some choice shots of my girlfriend... i guess i shouldve clarified from the get go... anyways... thanks for the tips... im sure one of them will do the trick...

[realityisterror]

Just wondering... isn't this what OS X takes care of? If only you have permission to open the folder then noone else can. Or do you only use one user for different people? Perhaps you should change this. With Panther's fast user switching, it's even more comfortable for everyone to have a working environment on his/her own.

i would NOT use permissions. the best bet is the encrypted sparseimage. why not permissions? other admins (if there are any) can change it back. it's somewhat risky.

my opinion
reality

[janey]

:confused: I dun get it. F11's great for open windows n' stuff, but not for an unattended computer...
yeah. for an unattended comp your best bet is fast user switching :p

but f11 rocks when your parents go into your room or something. :D

[Makosuke]

All good suggestions here; I've used permissions as a simple deterrant from other user accounts, but I've always gone the encrypted disk image method for more sensitive information.

Problem is, I just tried to open that disk image yesterday, and up comes a "No mountable filesystems" error! What the heck!

So... any suggestions? I never did anything untoward to the file, although I think this is the first time I've tried to use it since upgrading to 10.3. I'm hoping I didn't fall victim to a variety of the bug that can totally wipe mounted disk images on a restart (it was reported on MacFixIt a few weeks ago, and I could definitely recreate that scary bug with a test image), although I don't remember ever leaving the image mounted on a restart.

Anyway, words of caution--apparently, despite years of success using disk images for security purposes exactlly like this, disk images aren't 100% foolproof.

[Hemingray]

not pron... dirty minds of macrumors... just some choice shots of my girlfriend...

Say n'more, squire! Wink wink, nudge nudge... ;) ;) :D :D

[mj_1903]

If you just need very limited security, try LameSecure from VersionTracker. It just adds a password to the folder you specify...very simple.

LameSecure is exceptionally lame and I wouldn't trust it with anything even half important.

[oldschool]

LameSecure is exceptionally lame and I wouldn't trust it with anything even half important.

Why? He said he wants to put a password on a folder so people don't unintentionally open it up.

LameSecure fits his needs perfectly.

It's similar to the locks on luggage. You can open them with a screwdriver, but they're there to make it a bit harder to open.

[janey]

a combination of permissions, encrypted sparse disk image and a few choice apps seems like it'll work :)

create a new sparse image, drop the password protected file in there and set permissions of the sparseimage :D

[cb911]

i've used LameSecure in the past. it works good for non-Mac/Unix people who are liable to snoop.

but the best way has to be a encrypted disk image for sure. :D but if you forget the password it'll take about 100,000,000 years to crack it. :p

as for hiding stuff from off the screen when you're walked in upon... you could also try a virtual desktop manager. there's CodeTek Virtual Desktop... which i haven't used, or there's an awesome opensource alternative called Desktop Manager. it's awesome & it's got the 'cube' transition whenever you switch desktops. but that leaves icons in the menubar... you might be able to take them away, 'cause they'd look suspicious.

good luck. :D

[jelloshotsrule]

can we change the title of the thread to "how to hide your porn"? or rather, "how to hide your 'choice shots' of your significant other"?

[scifi451]

so besides lame secure what would you recommend?

[cb911]

well for securing stuff on a Mac that only you use (mostly) you might as well just make a encrypted Disk Image.

for a Mac where other people use it regularly you can setup other accounts that won't let them access certain folders.

of course if anyone stumbles upon a folder or disk image that is password protected they'll get suspicious of course. ;)

i wouldn't bother with any other apps. they really only give you a false sense of security.

>> one last important tip!!! :D this requires the use of Terminal... but that's fun anyway. :) you can create a 'hidden' folder by typing in Terminal 'mkdir .foldername'. (i think that's right :p) that means make a folder (directory) and the second part it the folder name. because you put a '.' in front of the name it'll be hidden from the finder. you'll have to get to it Via Terminal, or in finder hit 'Cmd+Shift+G' for 'go to folder'... then type the path of the folder, and viola!

there might be apps to make hidden folders as well, not sure. this is kinda cool way of hiding stuff... but i think things will still be able to be acessed via the 'recent items' menu. if you use a disk image and unmount it, you won't be able to access anything via the 'recent items' menu. but i guess you've just got to clean up after yourself.

hope that tip helps some people. :D