Any windows app that will allow me to hide files/folders in external USB drives? Also it will protect from search as in search query on hidden files should not return any result.
My Win 10 version is 1909.
https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/bulk_file_changer.html
set attrib of any file or dir to hidden + system.
Yes, you are right about the 3rd party search programs. Protect as in protect from searching 🙂 and deffo invisible too.
If that is what you want then you will have to look at disk encryption or physically withholding the disk from others.
Denis
Who are you trying to "protect" the files from?
If it's to prevent accidental deletion, editing, and other modification then anything you implement in the operating system can be simply overridden, all you need is admin, or even general user access, the hiding of files within windows is merely there as a convenience to the user, it is not designed to protect against intentional modification.I have, in the past, systems for use in homes and offices where all but the user's personal files were invisible to the user, this included the whole windows system, programs, apart from the shortcuts to access them. what you can't see you can't break
You could set up a multiple user system where areas of the files system are protected by the use of file system permissions, Admin users can always find a way to change anything that another admin has put in place, so you require the system to be setup to only have one admin, all other users accessing the data on the system must be a standard user, this applies to local access and remote network access.
This type of access rights can be used to hide and prevent access to files and folders, but without a Server/Client network system setup and a fully competent System administrator and possibly a set of trained specialists is difficult to maintain in the real world, so is normally only seen in larger shared systems.
For small systems or home usage there are two possibilities for security of files - partly made easier as we are discussing content of an external storage ...
First option is the use of encryption of all the files and folders concerned, there are a number of easily available software solutions available to encrypt part or all of the contents of the remote drive - some such as Truecrypt were open source (but not now recommended due to known issues with the original code), the microsoft BitLocker and related technology come free with some Windows versions and are proven. this system of security requires management in that the encryption has to be switched on and off as access is required so needs some level of administration / user segregation
The second option is totally free although it does also need management, you just physically remove the external drive to a locked safe location when you are not using it - low tech, but it works
Thanks for the detailed response Nigel 👍
I just wanted my folders to stay hidden in the external drives when I loan it to my friends...so I think encryption process will work out in that case.
If you are looking for something specifically for an external drive or USB PenDrive then there are a number of options, 7 Best USB Encryption Software for 2019 | Beebom discusses options The first on the list is the most popular but others may have options that suit your needs better
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