The OneMinute Geek:

Protect Your Information
The Problem:

Your home computer offers a wealth of information—photos, financials and maybe even work-related stuff you just don’t want little Johnny poking his curious little nose into and inadvertently deleting with reckless abandon. How can you keep private files private and still allow other people to use the computer?

The Solution:

If you already use a login and password to get into your Windows XP machine, your computer has a built-in feature that lets you use the same password to protect a file you may not want to share with other users. Here’s what you have to do:

1. Turn on your PC and navigate to the file icon you want to reserve for your eyes only.
2. Place your cursor on top of the icon and right click your mouse. Choose “Properties.”
3. Click on the “Sharing” tab and check the box “Make this folder private.”
4. Click “Apply.”
5. If you do not already use a login and password to get into your computer, a box will popup asking if you want to assign a password.  You will have to do this if you want to make that file private.  
6. Type in a password, write it down someplace safe, confirm it, click “Create Password” and then close the Password window.
7. Click “OK.”
8. Repeat steps #1-4 for additional files you want to make private.

Now that file is safe!  Nothing like good ol’ fashioned peace of mind when it comes to protecting your data.

But here’s the catch:  If you weren’t previously using a login and password to get into your computer, you will have to enter a password now whenever you want to use your computer.  That’s fine for you but maybe not OK for the others who share the same computer. They won’t be able to access the computer without your password.  Solution? Go to your “Control Panel” and double-click on “User Accounts” to create new users and modify existing ones.  You can create password-protected account for each user, or just one generic account for all the other users while you keep yours.  Have fun.

James Kerr is President/CEO of SuperGeeks, a Hawaii-based computer service and repair company (www.supergeeks.net). Send questions, comments and suggestions to help@supergeeks.net or call 942-0773.