[Mohammed_a]

How can I password protect a file?

[pjskelti]

Use Filevault if you're using Panther or look for encryption utilities on versiontracker or macupdate.

[TomMacs]

Another alternative is using Disk Utility. One feature here is the ability to passwd protect an encrypted folder. Now to do this launch DU (Disk Utility) and then look at the toolbar. You'll now see a widget with a disk image icon, it's also labeled as "New Image". Once found click on it. Now your greeted with a menu where you'll select the folder you wish to encrypt. Then select the size of the folder (estimated, since it can't be exact), then the encryption (tsh only one type), last but not least whether it will be read/writable. Then you'll be prompt to type in the passwd of the disk image. Thats it.

[pjskelti]

Not a bad idea - forgot about that, although if more files are to be added, best make the .dmg big enough to begin with to allow for future additions. Of course, with PGP, you can make a hidden and encrypted partition on your drive which no-one knows is there.
Is there a chance the .dmg could be accidentally removed as well, without the password needed to trash or empty the trash? That'd be my fear of that approach.

[TomMacs]

Yes unfortunately you are correct. It's deleted as easy as it was made (the disk image (.dmg)).

[pjskelti]

That's what i thought. Not the bset solution then, more of a DFR! one. (DFR - do f.......ine rightly! /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif )

[ALG]

If you are just trying to hide your files from other users on your machine there are a couple of ways without password. You can go to tty and change the permissions on the fileor you can hide it by just renaming it and placing a dot in front of the name and do not give group and other any permissions on the file.

[Nobody]

How do I get to FileVault?

[gyroscope4]

filevault is a feature of panther (os 10.3). you can turn it on in system preferences > accounts > security.

[Mohammed_a]

thanks for the posts you guys :>
but i dont want to turn the file into an enchrypted file, i want to use a password to access it so when i double click it i need a password.

[JohnnyA]

If it's a Word file, select Save As instead of Save. And in Options, input a password. The file is not encrypted, only access-protected.

[Mohammed_a]

yeah i know but the folder its self

[gyroscope4]

a quick search of macupdate.com for "password protect" turned up several utilities for password protecting folders, some of them freeware. i haven't used any of them so i can't offer any recommendations.