There are many ways to hide files from nosy people, but you can simply password-protect your files folder. This can be done using a variety of programs, including those that are distributed free of charge.
FlashCrypt program
One of the most convenient and simple programs for installing on a password folder is "FlashCrypt". It is distributed free of charge, and you can download it directly from the official website, which is located at: https://fspro.net/flash-crypt/. After downloading this program, you should install it on your PC. After that, a completely new item called "Protect with FlashCrypt" will appear in the context menu of each folder.
To put a password on a folder, you need to right-click on it and select this item. After that, a window opens in which you must enter the password and specify the settings, if necessary. So, they have the following functions. The "Enable file compression" item will enable file compression, and thanks to the "Enable password recovery facility" the user will be able to recover the password if he forgets it.
After specifying the password and the necessary settings, you will need to click on the "Protect" button. Then the data encryption process will begin, when it is completed, a new folder will appear with the same name and program icon. In the future, if you want to open the protected folder, you will need to enter a password. It is important to know that due to the fact that 256-bit AES encryption is used to protect data, it is impossible to restore the contents of a folder without a password. After entering the password, the folder turns into a regular one, and you can work with the files contained in it.
Regular archiver
When there is no desire and time to search and install special programs for password protection of folders, you can protect your data using an ordinary archiver. It is important to know that the 7zip archiver, like the FlashCrypt program, is absolutely free. It is usually installed along with other programs when buying a PC. But if it is not available, then you can download the program on the official website
To turn a folder into a password-protected archive, you need to right-click and find an item called "7-zip - Add to archive". Then a window will open with the archiving settings. Here you will need to select the item "Archive format" 7z and specify the password. To hide file names, check the box "Encrypt file names". Now you need to save the result by clicking on the "OK" button. After that, the user will receive a 7z archive; to access it, he will need to enter a password.
