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There's a lot to like about this tool that secures folders, but Free Folder Hider turns out to be a name open to interpretation. In the literal sense, it's accurate, since you can hide a single folder for free, but if you want to protect more than one, you'll have to pay up.
Free Folder Hider requires set up of a password for accessing the program, so you're protected from the very beginning. The main user interface offers self-explanatory buttons for adding folders to the private folder list, opening the folders, locking the private folder, and finally, removing folders from the private list. More information about a button is found with a quick mouse roll over it. And a help feature offers even more back up should you need it. Once we entered our password, we were able to quickly add a folder to the private folder list, where it was immediately protected. However, when we tried to add another file to the private list, a window popped up telling us that we had to pay to protect more than one folder at a time.
This program's trial limitation totally caught us off guard, and we would have preferred a more direct approach, with the publisher acknowledging that this was a trial version. This is a field with a lot of options to choose from. Go with one that lets you know up front what you're getting into.
Publisher's Description
From AutoBAUP:
Almost every computer user keeps files that are personal, private and confidential, or important to be preserved as undeletable. You may have files that are inappropriate for kids or other family members, or files with valuable information that can be stolen. Such files and folders need security protection so that intruders or unauthorized users cannot access, read, view, copy, move or delete them. Folder Hider can hide and password-protect your files, folders, pictures, and documents in seconds. With Folder Hider, you can keep all the data you want to secure in a hidden place.
What's new in this version: The restriction of hide folders's quantity have been lifted on the free version 11.05.
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All versions:
3.3 starsout of 29 votes
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Current version:
3.8 starsout of 6 votes
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My rating:
Write review
Results 1-6 of 6
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"Works better than expected"
Version: Free Folder Hider 11.05
Pros
Works across network. Hide a folder on shared drive and was not able to see it from any computer on network.
Cons
None so far
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"It seems to be great!"
Version: Free Folder Hider 11.05
Pros
It simply makes files and folders invisible. Sinple to use and effective. Good software.
Cons
None so far
Summary
It simply makes files and folders invisible. Great!
A casual observer wouldn't know an invisible file is there unless they check file sizes and folder sizes and space used ... but unless they are actually looking for invisible files they will never know -
Who i'm referring to when I say "they" would depend on who you don't want to see the files of course. But if it was to be government agents or something then they probably could but your average person wont notice them at all. -
"It hides folder but way to simple to find."
Version: Free Folder Hider 11.05
Pros
Hides folder(one). easy to use.
Cons
Find folder just by using Windows search.(Windows 7)
Summary
Not what I was loking for.
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"Works as advertised."
Version: Free Folder Hider 11.05
Pros
This is what I was looking for to hide and lock files.
Cons
Works perfectly.
Summary
Don't waste your money on other products.
Found something better...cleaner interface with more options, and yet, still free! My Lockbox. Just my 2 cents.
Updated on Jul 25, 2011 -
"worst software ever"
Version: Free Folder Hider 11.05
Pros
frankly speaking i didnt find any pros
Cons
please do no download it. I tried hiding 3 4 folders at a time and it went crazy. the folder which was hidden became unhidden and the unhidden one became hidden. basically i would have lost all my data if i hadnt backed up.
Summary
not worth it.
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"It works just like its supposed to"
Version: Free Folder Hider 11.05
Pros
Although you can only hide 1 folder with the Free version, you can always place more folders within that one folder, thus hiding multiple folders.
Cons
Dont hide the folder containing the program or where its installed because then you wont be able to operate the program to retrieve your hiden foder>unless you re-install another copy and accesss it that way.
Summary
Great program to hide your Private files from other non-tech-savy users because ultimately any hidden file can be found and opened unless its incrypted.
Results 1-6 of 6
