SERIOUS HELP NEEDED: How To Store Files So They Can't Altered?

I may be taking a less technical approach here, but is there a threat of someone else getting access to your external drive? If you back up your files to this drive, then disconnect it from your computer, it should be completely safe.

CountMike said:

Close a session and no more can be written to it. Of what is written already, not one bit can be changed on that disk, nothing. As long as disk is not damaged, everything is safe.

Thanks! Is there a way I can check that the PDF files on the DVD-R cannot be "re-written to" once I've finished burning the DVD-R so that I can be certain they can't be changed in the future?

The files can't be edited and saved to the same DVD-R they're written to but unless protected by an editing password or an opening password or both they can be edited and saved elsewhere as files can be copied from any medium such as DVD/CD so your best bet is still to password protect the files and store somewhere safe

shimshom said:

The files can't be edited and saved to the same DVD-R they're written to but unless protected by an editing password or an opening password or both they can be edited and saved elsewhere as files can be copied from any medium such as DVD/CD so your best bet is still to password protect the files and store somewhere safe

I think I understand what you're trying to say.

You're saying that if I don't use a password on the DVD-R then it'd be easy for someone to duplicate the DVD-R and create a new DVD-R that contains files that have been edited and place the new DVD-R in place of the old DVD-R without me knowing?

You're a genius!

CountMike said:

PDF files on DVD-R (and everywhere else) protected by password not disk itself. For added security, you could also place them in a folder before copying to DVD and lock the folder itself with something like this: Download Anvi Folder Locker Free - MajorGeeks
Just watch it, if you overdo with protection and forget or loose password, you may never again see that document.

Hmmm. So do you mean I can create an "encrypted container" on my PC's HDD and then burn that encrypted container to the DVD-R?

Thank you so much!

EDIT: Since it's a DVD-R and not a DVD-RW wouldn't it be impossible for me to enter a password to open the encrypted container?

NiceAndShy said:

Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge with me. I really appreciate it!

I just want to store the .PDF files as if they were hardcover books in a library. Does this make sense? I'm thinking the earlier idea of using a DVD-R might be best for me... Is it possible for a DVD-R to be re-written to after the first time files are burned to the DVD-R disc?

Hardcover books in library can be modified quite easily. Do you know about such inventions as pencil, marker, pen etc..?
Lots of published .pdf books actually are harder to modify than you think they usually use protection to limit user access to copy, edit, etc..

VBJP said:

Hardcover books in library can be modified quite easily. Do you know about such inventions as pencil, marker, pen etc..?
Lots of published .pdf books actually are harder to modify than you think they usually use protection to limit user access to copy, edit, etc..

But it'd be obvious when a hardcover book has been modified... Most of the .PDF files I'm wanting to store don't have this "protection to limit user access to copy, edit" as you say and they're easily editable...

I'd love to hear more ideas though!

I just had another idea:

Couldn't I somehow make a folder "Read Only" so that all the files contained on it can't be altered?