How do I hide pictures on my computer?

[Lowered]

OK, I'm sure we all have pictures that we wouldn't like anyone snooping on our computers to find; ex-lovers, nudies, etc... How do we password protect them or hide them so they can't be found?
One method I've used is to put them into MS Word files and password protect the file but that changes the resolution and size and I'm not sure how secure that is. What do all of you do?

 

[User_Name]

OK, I'm sure we all have pictures that we wouldn't like anyone snooping on our computers to find; ex-lovers, nudies, etc... How do we password protect them or hide them so they can't be found?
One method I've used is to put them into MS Word files and password protect the file but that changes the resolution and size and I'm not sure how secure that is. What do all of you do?

Go to www.handybits.com and download 'easycrypto' free of charge, this encrypts and password protects files on your PC and can be used to email encrypted files to others if you want to send a pic of something naughty like. While there download file shredder as well it completely destroys stuff you don't want traced later.

Edited to add: easycrypto is simple to use, but if you get confused drop me a line and I'll run through it with you, I've been using it for years, and as wishful says you can store stuff of PC on web storage.

 

[wishfulthinking]

There are websites that you can upload your pics onto into your own private gallery, that only people you give access too [if any] can see. You don't save it on your computer at all. Can't remember what they are called - photo trunks/storage or something.

 

[EJFan]

you can create a hidden folder the same way you create any other kind of folder... stash 'em in there.

just remember that nothing is fool-proof. many people have the little bit of knowledge necessary to find stuff on your pc even after it's been deleted. for general security though, i'd say hidden folder or a password protected folder.

 

[User_Name]

you can create a hidden folder the same way you create any other kind of folder... stash 'em in there.

just remember that nothing is fool-proof. many people have the little bit of knowledge necessary to find stuff on your pc even after it's been deleted. for general security though, i'd say hidden folder or a password protected folder.

That's the beauty of a file shredder prog EJ, it overwrites the deleted files several times with nonsense binary code of 1's & 0's completely jumbling it up rendering it virtually imposible to recover, whereas simply hitting delete just removes the short cut to the file from your PC, but leaves the file intact on your HDD. Also encrypting it within your password protected folder, with yet another password protected ecryption ensures that no one can read it even if they get into the folder.

 

[Weird Harold]

OK, I'm sure we all have pictures that we wouldn't like anyone snooping on our computers to find; ex-lovers, nudies, etc... How do we password protect them or hide them so they can't be found?
One method I've used is to put them into MS Word files and password protect the file but that changes the resolution and size and I'm not sure how secure that is. What do all of you do?

Version of Windows after Win ME support "compressed folders" which are actually just ZIP files, which can be password protected.

Theonly relly secure way to keep peple from finding pictures or sensitive files on your computer is to remove them from your computer and use a secure wipe progrm like NOrtons wipefile or the file shreder mentioned above.

I dont mean that you need to delete the images, just move them to a CD or other removal media and store them in a lock-box insted of leaving them permnently on your computer.

 

[Luv2PleasureF]

OK, I'm sure we all have pictures that we wouldn't like anyone snooping on our computers to find; ex-lovers, nudies, etc... How do we password protect them or hide them so they can't be found?
One method I've used is to put them into MS Word files and password protect the file but that changes the resolution and size and I'm not sure how secure that is. What do all of you do?

A couple things:

1. You could get a yahoo account that's free, and have them saved in yahoo documents. Password protected, but also go to options there so you can make it private, and no one can see but you or the people you invite by email to view. It's real cool!

2. Floppy or CD.

 

[asenath]

It's silly to hide stuff. If I'm with someone and they don't like what's on my computer.. too bad for them. I'm not going to scurry around hiding stuff. That's weak.

 

[cmarlowe01]

Now what if you are in a relationship with another woman and you still have nude pictures of your ex. A pc is the best way to hide them I have mine hidden on a non labled Cd in a lock box. When I feel the need to see what I have lost I pop in the CD. MMMM

 

[Weird Harold]

1. You could get a yahoo account that's free, and have them saved in yahoo documents. Password protected, but also go to options there so you can make it private, and no one can see but you or the people you invite by email to view. It's real cool!

Password protected online storage is only good for keeping honest people and casual browsers from seeing your pictures. The site administrators can see anything on their servers, and passwords mean nothing to a hacker.

For that matter, password protected archives and encrypted files are also only protection against honest people and casual snoopers.

A disk locked in a strongbox or safety deposit box isn't totally secure against someone who really wants the pictures.

Anyone wishing to hide/secure information has to strike a balance between easy access for them and how hard they want to make access for someone else. Online storage sounds good, but if you can log in to see the pictures, so can almost anyone else if they really want to.

 

[wishfulthinking]

It's silly to hide stuff. If I'm with someone and they don't like what's on my computer.. too bad for them. I'm not going to scurry around hiding stuff. That's weak.

Cool, but not everyone has the same attitude toward their parents finding stuff they don't need to see, or even want to see

 

[Lowered]

Thanks everyone for all the great suggestions! I'm going to download the easycrpto and file shredder software now. It's nice to find some intelligent people on the web who share similar intersts . You all rule!

 

[Lowered]

It's silly to hide stuff. If I'm with someone and they don't like what's on my computer.. too bad for them. I'm not going to scurry around hiding stuff. That's weak.

It's not always about hiding it from a specific person. You never want personal pictures to get stolen or leave your hands. Imagine if a buddy secretly copies your personal pics and then loses the disc. Or if someone hacks your computer or even if you take it to get repaired and the next thing you know, your private sex pics & vids are on Kazaa. I know I'm being overly cautious or paranoid, but better paranoid than embarassed!

 

[Weird Harold]

It's not always about hiding it from a specific person. You never want personal pictures to get stolen or leave your hands. Imagine if a buddy secretly copies your personal pics and then loses the disc. Or if someone hacks your computer or even if you take it to get repaired and the next thing you know, your private sex pics & vids are on Kazaa. I know I'm being overly cautious or paranoid, but better paranoid than embarassed!

If those are your concerns, then you need to keep your pictures on a removable disk or an external drive you can remove/disconnect when you let friends use your computer.

Passwords and Encryption on a folder will just slow down a hacker, repairman, or a friend with access to your computer. Passwording and Encrypting the files themselves will just make it bothersome for you to view them.

 

[Eritz]

I would go with the encryption role if you realy want to 'hide' files. Okay they won't be hidden, but no one but you will be able to access them which achieves the same end result.

 

[asenath]

It's not always about hiding it from a specific person. You never want personal pictures to get stolen or leave your hands. Imagine if a buddy secretly copies your personal pics and then loses the disc. Or if someone hacks your computer or even if you take it to get repaired and the next thing you know, your private sex pics & vids are on Kazaa. I know I'm being overly cautious or paranoid, but better paranoid than embarassed!

If I didn't want someone to see some pictures, I'd just put them on a disk. I don't hang around snoops so I don't worry about it.

 

[Carmelbabe]

Go to www.handybits.com and download 'easycrypto' free of charge, this encrypts and password protects files on your PC and can be used to email encrypted files to others if you want to send a pic of something naughty like. While there download file shredder as well it completely destroys stuff you don't want traced later.

Edited to add: easycrypto is simple to use, but if you get confused drop me a line and I'll run through it with you, I've been using it for years, and as wishful says you can store stuff of PC on web storage.

I have a question about send the encrypted pics...would the person have to decrypt them? or would it open as normal?

 

[Weird Harold]

I have a question about send the encrypted pics...would the person have to decrypt them? or would it open as normal?

They have to be decrypted by the recipient. You'll need to provide them with the decryption key.

DO NOT send the encryption key in the same e-mail as the image! It pretty much defeats the purpose of encryption. Call them on the phone and read them the key, or send it in a separate e-mail on a separate day.

 

[grungalunga]

hide it DEEP into your computer.

c:\program files\msn games\data\pics

For me, I added a folder to my MSN Games folder. It is very deep in the computer, something no body will find by accident

You could also put all the stuff into a zip file. And rename the zip file to something like pic.dat

The dat file will look like a system file to the casual observer, but youwill know what it's really for,

 

[kaptain karnage]

The only problem with hiding it deep in your folders is that:

1) You might forget where you left them

2) The 'search' function will still show them.

The best solutions I've found are to:
1) Ensure that the titles aren't to revealing ('bfex' instead of 'butt-fucking ex-girlfriend') this will reduce the odds that someone would want to open the file.

2) Change the file extensions. I haven't tried this with pics but with movies I've altered the extension so the system believes them to be .txt files. This means if anyones searching for movies they won't show up and if they do try and open the file it won't load in word-pad. When i want to load it I just open media player and drag the file over.

3) Encryption is the best way of preventing someone opening the file once they do find it. Any commercial encryption is pretty insecure against hackers or law enforcement but is more than adequate to prevent casual snoopers getting through.

4) Finally it's best not to have the things on your PC at all. Stick them on a disk (encrypting and changing file type) and keep it hidden.A good idea is to make a CD with a few audio tracks on (and label it as a music CD) this should prevent anyone getting too curious.

Hope that helps. Luckily my better half is fine with my pics so I just leave them right out in the open.

 

[VSE]

www.pgp.com used (not sure if it still does) give you the option to create an encrypted "drive". This is essentially a file you can "mount" as a disk and store stuff in. once it is "dismounted" all you can see is a file of whatever size you specified in the directory you store it in. You can't see the contents, cant view them etc etc. You need to generate a keyword/phrase when you make the file/drive but it's the surest way I've come across for storing things you dont want others to view.