Password protection for external hard drive
I want to password protect my external hard drive and pen drive. I tried searching online but not able to figure out best and safest way for doing this. I dont want to encrypt my entire data. Just a password protection is enough. Any good and free tool available for accomplishing this? Thanks.
ASKER
But bitlocker will encrypt all the data. Isn't there anything simpler and safer~
if want simple then go for folder lock ..there are somany
for ex:
https://www.reneelab.com/password-protect-folder-in-external-hard-drive.html
https://folder-lock.en.softonic.com/
all the best
for ex:
https://www.reneelab.com/password-protect-folder-in-external-hard-drive.html
https://folder-lock.en.softonic.com/
all the best
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Lock & Hide Folder free software
But bitlocker will encrypt all the data. Isn't there anything simpler and safer~You can create a VHD via disk management and store it on the external drive. You can then encrypt that virtual drive with BitLocker and mount it as a drive when you need it.
OR you can use zip , 7z etc with enryption.
I wonder why for you, Bitlocker would not be the easiest way. Encrypt the whole drive and set it to auto-unlock on your PC. Never again will you have to type a password when you connect it to that PC, but still it is protected if stolen. Other solutions will need 3rd party software and will not be as easy to use.
Buy an external drive that includes self encryption.
A password also functions as a decryption key.
you can use EFS to encrypt sone or all data. In order to access this data in the event this computer dies would require that you export the EFS certificate before hand and load it on the other system to which you connect this external drive.
The other option, get an external drive with a lock. The lock at times is a power switch.
Though if the drive is stolen or lost, if the case is opened, the drive connected to the system will allow its data to be accessed.
A password also functions as a decryption key.
you can use EFS to encrypt sone or all data. In order to access this data in the event this computer dies would require that you export the EFS certificate before hand and load it on the other system to which you connect this external drive.
The other option, get an external drive with a lock. The lock at times is a power switch.
Though if the drive is stolen or lost, if the case is opened, the drive connected to the system will allow its data to be accessed.
ASKER
@McKnife - I want a solution where even f anyone else attaches my external drive to my PC, they should not be able to see the contents. I need password protection actually.
ASKER
@noci - My external hard drive has about 1TB data. How can I use zip or 7zip? Are you suggesting to compress entire hard drive?
BitLocker offers password protection. All you need is there to choose from.
ASKER
Yes. I just checked. Unfortunately I have Windows 8 Single edition and Bitlocker is not part of the system. I can't upgrade it to 8.1 as windows doesn't allow me to saying my product key wont work. Any idea how I can upgrade to 8.1 or get Bitlocker in my current system?
Home edition? There is no "single" edition.
ASKER
I am trying veracrypt. I hope that it will help.
ps chech the following link for details..
https://techviral.net/protect-external-hard-disk-with-password/
https://techviral.net/protect-external-hard-disk-with-password/
all the best