Hiding Files And Folders.... Two methods to do it

	Hiding Files And Folders.... - Two methods to do it
	Discussion by abhiram with 9 Replies. Last Update: August 10, 2006, 9:13 am

abhiram

Hi, I'm kinda new here so please forgive me if you find this tip lame

Now, I've got a lot of stuff on my computer (read pr0n) that I don't want anyone from finding out (esp. my kid brother

). So, here are 2 methods that I usually use to hide files. It works fine in Windows XP but i'm not sure about the other windows versions.

Method 1:

1. Right click the folder that you want to hide. Select Properties.
2. Click on the 'Customise' tab and select 'Change Icon'.
3. Now select the white space as shown in the picture below:

http://www.abhiram.0nyx.com/hide.jpg

4. Select 'OK' and 'Ok' in the properties window.
5. Now you'll only see the name of the folder and no icon.
6. To get rid of the name, right click on the name and then select 'rename'.
7. Now, while keeping the 'alt' button pressed, press 2,5,5 in succession on the NUMERIC KEYPAD. A space will appear in the name space.
8. Press 'ENTER' and that's it! You now have a hidden file right there and no one can see it.

Now anyone can realise something fishy when they drag over it and see a small space getting highlighted. So, uncheck 'Auto-arrange icons' from the icons and drag your invisible folder to some corner of the parent folder. Makes it much more difficult to detect.

Method 2:

This is the method that I usually employ because it can be used to hide files as well as folders.

1. Open the run box with 'win+r' or start>run
2. type in 'cmd' and press 'ENTER'
3. In the console window that opens, type 'cd <complete path to the file>'
4. Type 'attrib +r +h +s +a <filename>' and press 'ENTER'.
5. That's it. Your file is hidden for good.
6. If you want to unhide the file, repeat the steps 1-3 and then type 'attrib -r -h -s -a <filename>'.

Ex: If you have a file named "badmovie.avi" in D:\MOVIES, here's what you type after opening the command console:

1. d: (changes the drive letter from c:, the default. to d:)
2. cd movies (folder containing badmovie.avi)
3. attrib +r +h +s +a movies (hide it!)

These files are not readily visible. To be able to see them in a folder, you will have to go to Tools>Folder Options>View and select 'Show hidden file types' and also uncheck 'hide protected operating files'.

Well, that's my tip for hiding files and folders. I hope someone finds this tip useful. It's what I use all the time

Sat Jul 30, 2005 Reply New Discussion

bmxpunker2005

wow thanks man, I've got uses for that. this website is so cool, you can learn anything from here haha

Sat Aug 13, 2005 Reply New Discussion

austiniskoge

Yeah, that's been around. Thanks for posting it though.

You can also right click, go to properties, and then check the box marked 'Hidden' or something.

I used to do that. But you can just make different usernames for the machine, and make yourself the admin. That lets you restrict opening certain folders and such. Good for kid brothers (I know.)

Sun Jul 23, 2006 Reply New Discussion

Quatrux

Well, the first method is a bit wacky, but I guess it works :unsure:

Never would think to do something like that, I would suggest another third method how to hide files from your little brothers or maybe even parents..

This is a really simply one, just create a .tar archive with your movies and set a password for it, no one will be able to open it and see the files without the password and if you want to open it, tar files open really fast, because most of you know why

Anyway you open it and watch it without unarchiving it with somekind of manager like 7-zip file manager and that is quite a good solution.

Sun Jul 23, 2006 Reply New Discussion

sparx

I'd still go one step further for deniability and install encryption software like the free and OpenSource TrueCrypt.

It allows you to create a file of a particular size which is encrypted. The file will be decrypted when you enter the correct password. When it is decrypted, a new volume is created and mounted. In plain-speak - a new drive appears on your system in which you can dump the files of choice. It appears just like when one plugs in a flash drive or some other media.

This isn't all - TC can also encrypt entire hard disk volumes and partitions, so your data is safe even if your hard disk or storage media is no longer in your possession.

One can even embed smaller sized containers into existing encrypted containers, thereby adding yet another near-impossible layer of security. Also included is the ability to pick a drive letter when mounted (for the pr0n king, it's gotta be X: ;-) ) as well as hotkeys to quickly dismount a volume or even dismount and quit. A measly 1.35 MB download and it's free.
TECHIE STUFF from Wikipedia:

TC is regarded as the one of the foremost OTFE (on the fly encryption) programs for both Windows and Linux.

The encryption algorithms used by TrueCrypt are AES, Blowfish, CAST5, Serpent, Triple DES, and Twofish.

All encryption algorithms use the LRW mode of operation, which is more secure than CBC mode for on-the-fly storage encryption.

Mon Jul 24, 2006 Reply New Discussion

abhiram

QUOTE

That lets you restrict opening certain folders and such. Good for kid brothers (I know.)

That'll work for sure, but better to not let them have any idea that you're keeping stuff from them ... it's quite easy to reset the password for any single user in XP.

QUOTE

create a .tar archive with your movies and set a password for it, no one will be able to open it and see the files without the password and if you want to open it, tar files open really fast, because most of you know why biggrin.gif Anyway you open it and watch it without unarchiving it with somekind of manager like 7-zip file manager and that is quite a good solution.

That's not a bad idea either. Another way to do it would be to just change the extensions of the files. I use mplayer for windows for playing movie files and it doesn't require a file to have an extension to play it. Or even change the name of the file to something that sounds academic like "L-C Oscillations" (I'm an engineer

).

@Sparx: Truecrypt seems very interesting. I've never heard about it before. Downloading it now, I'll check it out. Thanks for the heads-up. :unsure:

Mon Jul 24, 2006 Reply New Discussion

tansqrx

These two methods appear to be quite abit of trouble and without any meaningful security. It might work OK for two pieces of p0rn but what happens when you get a collection of more than two works of �art�? Method two is easily defeated by unhidding hidden files (from explorer window, tools>folder options>view>show hidden files and folders). The problem with method one is that you can only have one file named HFF (255).

As sparx suggested, encryption is much better and easier. By using a product such as TrueCrypt (free!) you can create a container and just store all of your information there. All you have to do is mount the partition and use it just like a hard drive. Very useful for an art collection consisting of more than one work.

Tue Aug 8, 2006 Reply New Discussion

xboxrulz

An easier way to hide files (literally) is to do this:

1. Right click your folder or file
2. Press Properties
3. Check the "Hidden" box

Just like this:

xboxrulz

Tue Aug 8, 2006 Reply New Discussion

swizzeron

Nice but also professional tools help or simply view all pr0n in any distro of linux the linux partitions are unviewable in windows

Thu Aug 10, 2006 Reply New Discussion

sparx

@xboxrulz:

That method would work only if the view was currently set in the FOLDER OPTIONS to NOT show "hidden & system folders". Most geeks normally have this option turned off so they have ready access to all their files. Even if you tried using DOS / command line to change the attrib to hidden, it would be child's play to unhide a folder/file.

Thu Aug 10, 2006 Reply New Discussion