Programs that hide folders: some quick questions

[DAS]

I use Hide Folders XP to hide some folders. Which is quite good really seeing as the program is called Hide Folders XP.

Just a couple of questions: firstly, how do such programs work? Secondly, can they be cracked?

The reason I asked is that a mate spotted the "LOCK" icon I have on the desktop and later claimed he had got past the thing and found the hidden files. Another mate also threatened he could hack the thing and that it was useless.

Note: The folder contains passwords and things like that, and NOT pornography as many of you have probably WRONGFULLY presumed without any evidence. You can't touch me for it.

[Jamez]

So how much did you pay for Gary Glitters old laptop on eBay, Das?

[Sput]

You can't touch me for it.

Very sensitive!

Do you feel that you've been the recipient of unwelcome touching in the past too, Das?

[Dr Lobster*]

i think it uses a file system filter driver, so the level of protection you get is an illusion.

i'd bet if you took out your disk and put it in another computer (or use a live unix boot distro that supports ntfs) the folders would be complete accessable.

it's quite a simple process, all what happens is when the driver sees a folder or file that is marked as hidden, that particular file/folder name discarded and not forwarded to the win api (and thus not displayed in explorer or accessable to any application that uses standard means for accessing files).

i wrote something like this for ms-dos years ago by intercepting the ms-dos interrupt 21. it's a bit more complex in windows and you need to write a kernel mode ring 0 driver (using the ms-ddk)

if you want to protect something like your master password list, you're probably much better off with pgp. with pgp disk you can have a virtual encrypted volume which is much more secure. so secure, i think you can download the source code.

[DAS]

Ta for that.

I suppose this FAQ on the website pretty much answers it:

When I boot my PC from floppy my hidden folders appear. Why?
The folders appear because Hide Folders XP hides them only when it is loaded.

Gary's laptop was an absolute bargain but alas it was local pickup only, and I couldn't get any flights to Vietnam.

[Dr Lobster*]

Ta for that.

I suppose this FAQ on the website pretty much answers it:

When I boot my PC from floppy my hidden folders appear. Why?
The folders appear because Hide Folders XP hides them only when it is loaded.

Gary's laptop was an absolute bargain but alas it was local pickup only, and I couldn't get any flights to Vietnam.

ah, there you go... that confirms pretty much that it uses a file system filter driver. not very secure so if you do need to hide vast amounts of child porn, then a product such as pgp is something you should consider.

[MarkN]

ah, there you go... that confirms pretty much that it uses a file system filter driver. not very secure so if you do need to hide vast amounts of child porn, then a product such as pgp is something you should consider.

Truecrypt is a free encrypted virtual disk program that has extra options for the especially paranoid:

http://www.truecrypt.org/

[cdd]

Isn't the whole point of having more than one user account on XP? Or does the "Make Files Private" button just hide them instead of making them totally inacessable.

[Dr Lobster*]

Isn't the whole point of having more than one user account on XP? Or does the "Make Files Private" button just hide them instead of making them totally inacessable.

i hides them using windows ntfs security - on a single system it's secure but if you use a boot cd or take the hard disk out and stick it in another computer, you have full access.