I suspect the real reason is simplicity and convenience. Folder hiding is a concept that’s easily understood and it’s a really straight forward way of keeping your private information away from casually prying eyes.
I only know of one free utility that does the job: Free Hide Folder [1].
Usage is simple, you just nominate the folders you want to hide and they immediately disappear from view. Un-hiding requires the use of a password.
Like most folder-hiding utilities the level of secrecy is minimal. That’s because your information is hidden but not encrypted. Indeed I had no problem locating a file in a hidden folder by using Windows search. Then again you have to know what you are searching for.
I should also note that every time I used the program it nagged me for a donation. That’s OK we all have to eat but it’s still an annoyance.
In summary Free Hide Folder is a convenient and useful way of providing simple privacy protection. Don’t depend on it though to hide anything of real importance. If you want real security consider using the free open source program TrueCrypt [3] instead. It creates a virtual disk in which you can store your confidential data as opposed to a folder. It’s not quite as convenient to use but unlike "folder hiding" programs, it is totally secure.
[1] http://www.cleanersoft.com/hidefolder/free_hide_folder.htm
[2] http://techsupportalert.com/issues/issue137.htm#Section_5.1
[3] http://www.truecrypt.org/
Insider tips, how-tos, best security practices, and more
The Windows Secrets Newsletter brings you essential tricks for running Windows XP, Vista, 7, Internet Explorer, Firefox, Windows Update, and more — weekly, free.
Bonus: get this free download when you subscribe
Interested in Windows 8 but don't know where to start? You have a friendly guide in My Windows 8 Consumer Preview: A Sneak Peek at the Windows 8 Public Beta, by Katherine Murray. This month, all subscribers can download Chapter 1 and Chapter 5. In this excerpt you will learn about the new look of Windows 8, how to make things happen in it, how to use the apps that come with it, and how to get more apps.
We guarantee your privacy: We will never sell, rent, or give away your address to any outside party, ever. We will never send you any unrequested e-mail. Unsubscribe requests are honored within one business day. Privacy Policy
Related posts:
