Password Protect Folders for Windows

Used Password Protect Folders for Windows?

Editors’ Review

Download.com staffNovember 7, 2008

While this program easily password-protects folders, it isn't as robust as other security applications. Password Protect Folders' small interface offers two buttons to lock and unlock folders, and it's a simple process to select files and enter and confirm the password. The program lets you add a password hint, a nice bonus if passwords are lost or forgotten, but the inclusion of a password generator would have added a welcome layer of security. Locked folders have a tiny red minus sign icon over the yellow folder in Windows Explorer, and this seems like an unnecessary feature that merely draws attention to your private folders. When someone tries to access a locked folder, they're prompted for the password, which is fairly standard. However, unlike other encryption applications, once a folder is opened, the password protection is removed and you'll have to go through the process of locking it after each use. Other programs let you open and work in password-protected folders without needing to reassign a password each time. Password Protect Folders isn't an impressive security app, with its relatively high price tag, and users should have no problem finding a more flexible and functional alternative for safeguarding their folders.