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Password Lock Folder

creating the disk image is pretty cool. i just hid all my porn in these images so they are stored in movies and pictures and you can only access the disk image when you click the .dmg and enter the password. no more of my girlfriends friends getting into that stuff :D
 
NOTE: This is a very old thread, I'm just responding so this info is in the forum database for the future.


To lock a folder so it needs an admin password for access:

1) get info on the folder and turn down the "Details" triangle at the bottom
2) set group to "nobody" and no access
3) set others to no access
4) change the owner to "nobody"
5) close the lock

HOWEVER, there is a window of time of about a minute when you can still change these privileges without entering your admin password. To gain access back to the folder click the lock and select your normal user. You will then be prompted for an admin password, type it in and you now have access again.
 
okay so i created the encrypted disk image, but now.. how do i delete it? do i just eject it and remove it?
 
it doesnt tell me how to delete the whole disk. it just says i can erase it, but it doesnt remove it from my mac.

i just right click and remove right?
 
br.avery said:
it doesnt tell me how to delete the whole disk. it just says i can erase it, but it doesnt remove it from my mac.

i just right click and remove right?
Click to expand...
Yes, just drag the .dmg/.sparseimage file to the trash (or - as you suggest - right-click it and choose "Move to Trash") and empty the trash, and it's gone for good... :)
 
sweet! thats what i did and i was scared it messed up my mac or something haha

i just got a new macbook and im sooo paranoid of it!
 
Ok, so I made a .dmg file from the selected folder. Now I have the original folder and the .dmg replica folder. But I cannot erase the original so what is the point cause now I have 2 folders exactly the same, one .dmg and one regular which is not locked.

How do I erase the .dmg source folder?


Great, first it said cannot delete because folder is locked, I messed around and unlocked it and now it says, folder cannot be deleted or modified because folder is required by Mac OSX.

WTF?

Now I have 2 folders, one is a dmg. that is supposed to be password protected but opens without a password, and the original which also opens without a password that I cant delete or modify.

This is real nice cause this was supposed to protect this folder but now it is more vulnerable then ever.
 
Deville said:
Great, first it said cannot delete because folder is locked, I messed around and unlocked it and now it says, folder cannot be deleted or modified because folder is required by Mac OSX.
Click to expand...

Exactly which folder is it that you're trying to delete? And where is it located on your disk? Meaning, is this folder located outside of your User folder? Is it located inside the System or Library folders?

Deville said:
a dmg. that is supposed to be password protected but opens without a password
Click to expand...

When you created the dmg (and you did selected the encryption option, right?), you probably forgot to uncheck the box that said "remember password." Open up the Keychain application, find the name of your dmg in the keychain list, and delete it. Now when you double click the dmg it will require a password.

When you see the deleting error, take a screenshot and upload it to the forum. To take a screenshot hit apple-shift-3 (or command-shift-3 if you're using a newer keyboard), and the screenshot image file will show up on your desktop.
 
motulist said:
Exactly which folder is it that you're trying to delete? And where is it located on your disk? Meaning, is this folder located outside of your User folder? Is it located inside the System or Library folders?



When you created the dmg (and you did selected the encryption option, right?), you probably forgot to uncheck the box that said "remember password." Open up the Keychain application, find the name of your dmg in the keychain list, and delete it. Now when you double click the dmg it will require a password.

When you see the deleting error, take a screenshot and upload it to the forum. To take a screenshot hit apple-shift-3 (or command-shift-3 if you're using a newer keyboard), and the screenshot image file will show up on your desktop.
Click to expand...

Hi, thanks for the reply. Also, I apologize if my last posts seemed a bit rude, I was just really frustrated ( Only been using Mac for 4 months )

Anyways, I figured most of the stuff out. The reason I could not delete the folder that said " Required by Mac OSX " is because it is a folder under my user name folder that was created by Leopard.

I realized I could delete the contents inside the folder, but not the root of the folder which is what I was trying to do. I feel kind of dumb now, lol.

I managed to lock the folder by going, "get info" clicking the lock icon, entering my administrator password and selecting "read only"

As for the .dmg I created I just deleted it. I am going to try again and will uncheck the box as you said.

Thanks again for your help, I'll update after I get it all sorted.
 
I am thoroughly confused by this image thing. I followed the instructions and now I have a password protected disk image in my Documents folder. However, when I double click it, it only flashes like it might open, but then nothing happens. No request for password. Nothing.

So, how do I add files to it? How do I open it the first time? Was I supposed to include files in it somehow when I created it?

I have only had my Mac for two weeks, so I am still on a fairly steep learning curve since it's been easily over 5 years since I used a Mac at all and I've never owned one. If anyone can help a fledgling Windows convert, I would certainly appreciate it.
 
Now, I'm more confused than ever. I have the .dmg file which I cannot open. Finally, I realized that in my Finder under Devices, there is a new entry that is simply called Disk Image. That is not the name I chose for my .dmg file, but this Disk Image was not there before, so I'm assuming they are related.

When I click it, it opens right up, with no password request. I am certain I created the disk image with a password requirement. I can save things into it, but they are not secure at all and still listed on file searches such as All Documents.

It doesn't seem secure at all and the only info I have on these is a small section of a PDF from Apple that describes the basics of OSX, and there is no specific info on how to use these images once they have been created.

I'd really like to be able to figure this out, rather than having to upload my journal to Skydrive all the time. My husband and I share our computers and so anytime he uses it, he is under my name. However, I want my journal to be private and I was really hoping this image thing would be the solution. So far, it is pretty disappointing.
 
Have you done this:

When you created the dmg (and you did selected the encryption option, right?), you probably forgot to uncheck the box that said "remember password." Open up the Keychain application, find the name of your dmg in the keychain list, and delete it. Now when you double click the dmg it will require a password.
Click to expand...
 
Alright, whew, after much playing I've got it.

The new drive was in fact the one. Once loaded with files, click the eject button and it saves to the .dmg file. Then, with the drive closed, when you double click on the .dmg file, it does require the password to open back up.

Oh, and once the drive is "ejected" the names of the files in it are automatically removed from the All Documents list and anyplace else where it might have popped up. The only other warning I would give other new users is that if you move something in there, notice that it doesn't actually move, it copies. So, you have to go back and delete if from its original location.

If anyone knows of a good beginner's help guide for Windows refugees like me, a recommendation would be welcome. The little details about how things work are killing me.

ETA: rhett, just saw your post. No, I unchecked the Keychain box. See above in this post. I understand how it works now. Thanks for trying to help!
 
pre-determined size of image?

hey guys. i need to password protect just 1 folder but from what ive been reading, u hav to make the dmg image for the folder a certain size when using Disk Utility. well, im going to be constantly adding files to this folder and cant have a limited size for it.

is there no other option to make it just like a folder (no size limit, etc)?

it would be real nice if i could just password protect the folder directly without resorting to creating an image. i am also considering the app LameSecure, which does exactly that im told.

i really dont need encryption, i just need to prevent access to the folder except thru a password. please help.
 
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