This software has its reason for existence and its usefulness.
When you do not need to encrypt the folder but just want to hide it.
So there is not point saying you can "discover" it by various processes.

Yes, we all know about encryption software.
I have Steganos Safe which I use to encrpyt entire folders.
Another very cheap and easy to use encryption software is File Warden which encrypts and decrypts files.

Help tabs bring up nothing.
Thanks though. I'm going to try this out.

All the whistles in the GUI cant´t hide, what others pointed out:
just silly, if you relay on safety.

The only thing that is "better" compared to some of the many and even some free competitors: starting Windows in Safety Mode (F8) DOES NOT show the "protected" folder(s)...

... but not only Linux, but even my xtra small rescue windows PE with just 22 MB (based and built on ideas of Hirens boot CD) DOES show:
> all folders!
> ... and all files!
> ... and they are unprotected
> ... and fully readable with full access.

Software protecting just against very first sight - lacks all that what other folder "protectors" do.

Note:
Smaller programs and some of them for free ARE available for such little manipulations.

I am using this to replace the similar functioning and very similar sounding Free Hide Folder from a completely different company. I use it to hide my Auto Hotkey macro file, as if I encrypted that file the application would not work.

Note to the developers: The help file does not open from within the program, either from the Help button or from the tools menu. It does open from the shortcut icon. This is on a Windows 7, 64 bit computer. How can this be fixed.

Thanks to all those who commented. Based on the comments and the fact what I want to hide I also want to easily access I'll pass on today's offering. I agree with the comments about the pricing. It seems this developer has not reviewed the market in-depth.

Hi Everyone,
I was just reading the reviews and I see most users are a lot smarter then the average hide your folder? Or, Files from your kids? Or Wife!@? Its just a wast of money! You can do this for free within windows! And if you boot from a second OS? Or, A Thumb drive? ALL the so called hidden folders Will become available again! I like the one that if you have a need to hide things from your wife? You should spend the money towards consulting! I Agree! HDDs are getting SO Cheep any more that to buy them for doing backups, Or, Mirror image HDDs! So, If your C Drive dies? You just plug in your Mirror drive and your back and running in a few minutes! For the price of HDDs any more I do not even want to wait for a Backup utility to take 4 or 6 hours to recover my C: Drive! I just pop in the mirror drive!
You can get 1 TB Seagate Or, WD Drives for under $60.00 Dollars on any online stores! The one named after a famous Jungle has the best prices always! A 2 TB Drive for under $100.00 Dollars! And So On!
The point is! If you really want to hide something? Pop in a Big Thumb drive! Or, A 1 TB, Or, Bigger? External eSATA! Or, USB III External HDD Caddy and put all your "TOP SECRET": Stuff on that! Then UN-Pop it! Hide the DRIVE! DO"H!!! Keep in Mind that a Wife WILL FIND IT! They Always DO! So, Why Bother? If its business secret Stuff? NO Hacker? Or, Spy? Will EVER Find your Files if the Drive Is NOT IN! Or, Hooked UP! TO YOUR COMPUTER! DO"H!!!
This software is $40.00 Dollars! (Yeah I know its FREE today! Thank you GOTD!) Your 2/3ds the way to Buying a 1 TB HDD and keep your secret files where NO One! Will ever find them! Except Wife's and Most Kids! If your hiding things from them? Why? In the H%$L Did you get married and start a family to begin with? Get Counseling!
Sorry GOTD! I 100% Support everything you do! and Love 99% of everything you offer every Day for FREE! But! This one if just not worth Testing as it is only a placebo for people that think Big Brother is Watching! BTW? He probably Is! But? Nothing you can do would stop him from finding what he is looking for! If he was in fact Looking? Not limited to finding a hidden HDD in your House!!! LOL!
Take care everyone! ALWAYS Have FUN!!! Life is TO SHORT for anything Else! Rick D.

"Hide Folders 2012" safe ? ?

I have read something about hiding: I did hide and lock a map on a USB-stick; a warning:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10366431/_GOTD/HideFolders2012_20141106/MapUSB-Lock.png

The site is:
http://fspro.net/hide-folder-ext/

I connected the USB-stick to another PC: everything could be opened.

I did hide and locked a map on the PC and restarted Windows in Safe mode(also with command prompt): I couldn't find the map or access denied.
Under the same Windows it seems to work.

And I booted the laptop with Puppy Linux 5.1 boot-cd: everything could be opened:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10366431/_GOTD/HideFolders2012_20141106/PuppyLinux.png

This is a great program... I have lots of stuff to hide.

Roger, this is why I make full system image backups (in case I lose something that I need). Whenever I have made major changes to my computer (so, a few months or so before moving on), I make a full system image backup to restore from. The built-in Windows backup system image option is terrible. I use DriveImage XML. It works BEAUTIFULLY!

Any file lock software or any hide the files software is just a joke. Unless you encrypt the contents of the file, will not make the files secure. Changing the attributes of the property of the existing files is child's play to restore it back. There are so many such programs to unlock the files that makes this software obsolete to even install or use.

This program or the like should not be used for critical hiding/securing of folders/files (as explained by many above). I would think the private non business use of this program is more for keeping the kids from snooping/messing with your home spreadsheet documents, etc. This type of program is more like the cheep locks you find on those plastic 'floppy disk' containers in the office, just there to keep the honest honest.

I believe this kind of utility/software should be kept in the ream of freeware unless it can truly do what is claims without so easily being bypassed. If the developer needs some money for his effort then charge something like 99 cents like they do in the app world.

Thanks to MikeR at post 16. Too many people don't understand that software like this can only work if Windows loads it. Developers know it so I am assuming, they deliberately play on user ignorance to make money. At least today's Giveaway doesn't have the nerve to charge an annual license fee like iObit tries to get away with. That still doesn't mean it's worth having though even if free today. Thank you though to Giveaway of the Day for its kindness.

The ability to hide a folder in windows is built in to the OS already.

I have Ver3.9.6 of this software.
It still functions and for all practical purpose is sufficient.
Probably I would not need any new features of Version 4.6.5.

Installed and registered without problems on a Win 8.1.2 Pro system.

A company without name and address.

No detailed test because of a simple reason:

BEWARE!
This (and other programs of this kind) do only "hide" and "protect" folders, as long a the system is running. If you boot another system, these files are visible and can be accessed in any way at any time.

Also with this today's program I can access every "protected and hidden" folder, if I boot another system. So it also works ONLY on the running computer. Usable as a quick "hide", which is not really hidden.

Better to use the windows build in features for the correct access rights (which also can be overrun...) If you REALLY want to hide something, use an encrypted container.

IMHO a useless toy at an incredible price...

Uninstalled via reboot. Only installed to see, that it DOES NOT hide a folder, if accessed from outside, e.g. another computer.

#10, I don't see how a locked file folder can be accessed by using some other program within Windows. But it can be accessed if a user is in secondary partition ,(i have a Dual Boot setup) that way it can be accessed.
I will agree that locked file can be also accessed if one booted to PE Environment, outside of windows.
Those locked or hidden file/folder/driver when password protected cannot be accessed within windows, which this software provides.

http://www.toplang.com/
This software (File Lock) provides excellent lock feature, extremely lite and functional , never failed me.

It's quite awhile now since I wrote on here about how-to-bust-open a so-called hidden folder. I was referring to Iobit's offering then but nothing today's developer has said gives any indication that its offering is any different.

A Windows program loads with Windows. Doh. If Windows is started in Safe Mode - you simply hit F8 several times at boot-up -- then most programs don't load at all. Safe Mode primarily exists only to load essential drivers.

Iobit's "Protected Folders" could not load automatically, could not run automatically, when in Safe Mode. As a result, the Iobit software was not hiding anything, not protecting anything, not doing anything at all for the money. As to what it was "hiding":

Start up 'Everything', the fabulous little freeware search program, click on the 'Search' tab and in the drop-down menu, choose the file type you're seeking. Doesn't matter if you don't know the name: 'Everything' will, well-nigh instantaneously, find every image, every document, every movie and every program executable. Child's play. No computer knowledge or computer skills needed. Tap F8, open up in Safe Mode, run 'Everything' to search by file type and that's it. A few minutes' work.

Of course, if the files were encrypted, then that's a different story. They're not in any program 'container'. On which basis, then, there's no point in 'hiding' a file that can easily be discovered if that file isn't encrypted.

Today's $40 program -- and really, that price tag is mind-boggling -- appears to have a major flaw whether or not it's immune from Safe Mode breaking, because as Roger at post #1 says, what happens if you've hidden a file or folder on an external drive but your HDD crashes and takes out the "Hide Folders" with it? Hmmmm. Disaster.

Which explains why I find that $40 price-tag so astonishing, because that kind of issue has long since been resolved by the always-free file / folder 'invisibility' program Safehouse Explorer which, as can be seen from this link:

http://www.safehousesoftware.com/SafeHouseExplorer.aspx

"can be run directly from a USB stick without a Windows installation."

If today's developer isn't aware of that, it should be: levying a high price for software that can't even match existing freeware doesn't signal much in the way of business brilliance.

I don't have much time today to spend on this particular topic, so here's a quick info round-up:

1) TrueCrypt. It may or may not get a mention here. The advice is: do NOT use it. It was brilliant in its day but that day has gone, and its developers with it. The last message they issued on the Net -- there was initially some doubt about its authenticity, but time has proven it to have been just that -- was that TrueCrypt was not recommended to anyone.

2) File / folder encryption. There's a ton of freeware out there -- including the excellent 7Zip -- for locking up and encrypting. Yes, the files / folders are still visible but if you're that worried about it, you maybe shouldn't be keeping anything on your computrer at all.

3) Plenty of freeware publishers appear to offer for nowt that which today's developer seems to want a smallish fortune for. One such is Wise, a well known and highly respected developer. Wisecare Folder Hider is said by the developer to be the Number 1 freeware product in this sector. That may well be enough for any GOTDer to rush to use it. . . but a word of caution:

Wise never makes it make clear that the program is uninstallable without the password. (Obviously, it's unusable without the password anyway.) If you do forget the password then, and figure you'll just dump the program, then it ain't that easy. Wise will charge you for a new password. And it's not cheap.

Thanks, then, GOTD, but no thanks. Nothing about FsPRO Labs "Hide Folders" remotely suggests it's effective at any price. If Iobit hasn't been able to figure out a way of circumventing the F8 Safe Mode bootup / Everything search, it seems today's developer hasn't, either. So why would anyone want to bother??????

Installation en removal

I installed the program and secured a map:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10366431/_GOTD/HideFolders2012_20141106/MapBeveiligen.png

I couldn't find the removal entry in Software removal in Win7-64/WinXp-32.
I give RevoUninstall the order to remove the software the hard way: after that the hidden map was still missing.

After another installation, the map was accessible again and I did a uninstall within the program:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10366431/_GOTD/HideFolders2012_20141106/Deinstallatie.png

After restart the map was visible and open(not secured):
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10366431/_GOTD/HideFolders2012_20141106/WeerZichtbaar.png

To hide or not

I hide sometimes files on mine computer; sometimes another person is allowed to check Facebook, Hotmail etc.
And another time a 5-year old acces my computer without any permission; I just went for a cup of coffee and the 5-year old "plays" with the keyboard. And didn't listen to me.

So I will not lose any important documents on my computer, altough I have a back-up at home, it takes time

Does anybody have Linux within Win(dualboot)? In my old PC i had and if booted from Linux, then was possible to view hidden folder(s) and manage. If so, then this soft is useless...

Hello

I bet that any "hidden folder" can be easily seen, read and much more.

1. take a CD ROM or a bootable USB device with a Desktop Linux
2. boot on the device
3. search thru HD with "show hidden folders and files" option

#9 XP-Man

Your worry is very common and natural. Actually I found the tricks or process ( whichever you call ) of retrieving the files inside the password protected folder just few days ago when one of my friend could not retrieve his all official documents which he kept inside a folder locked by My Lockbox and The program had some issues , it didn't run. When he reinstall the program it could not locate the folder at all.

Fortunately I was able to recover the files using Winutilites > Undelete .

Then I tried it on another folder which was protected by Secure Folder and it worked. Though Secure Folder has the password retrieval options and also after reinstallation it is always able to locate and recover the folder itself.

#4

A locked file can be seen and the fact it's locked raise suspicion. A folder which can't be seen on the other hand raises none...

#5 #7 Jahid.
Your comment it did not appear until I had posted mine, so thank you for the advice.
My comment was a result of bitter experience, not one I wish to repeat.
Many years ago a Ph.D. student who had completed his thesis lost his hard drive and he had no backup of any form.
So I do tend to be concerned when viewing programs of this type, that is one make data difficult to retrieve for any reason.

My dear, what have you for forbidden things that must be hidden? Probably nothing... Like George said: "an ego-stroking program" but not really helpfull and pretty useless. Use the windows-functions (owner/rights) when you need it.

#6
@XP-Man

yes, Retrieval is possible by some other form. You can test as I have already shared the process of recovery of the files under the hidden or locked folder.
But you know if you encrypt the data it can be only unencrypted by the parent program.

#1 Roger.
After reading your excellent comment I decided to forego using this program, if data is important to you and you wish to hide it you should always make sure some form of retrieval is possible if things go wrong.
This company also sells "Hide Folder Ext" and if today's download and this were combined at least you would have some sense of security. At the price they are selling today's download I feel they should be one single program with options.
Thanks but no thanks!

@Roger

If you only hide the folder then it can be easily recovered by another program ( You have to install Winutilities , in this proram under privacy and safety module one application named 'UNDELETE' can recover the folder and files which were hidden by any folderlocker programs. This undelete program is different from other file recovery software ). I have tested it. I am able to recover the folders and files locked by My Lockbox and Secure Folder. Anyone can test this.

But if you encrypt the files then you will need that program to unencrypt.

So it seems folder locker / hider is not a safe options. Instead of this if you use program like SafeHouse Explorer ( it will create seperate password protected volume / locker of required size ) it will be much safer. But you have to remember the password always.

I'll keep this, although i use another program for this purpose and that is File Lock http://www.toplang.com/
It locks the file and once locked , what purpose for hiding it.

But todays program too fare well in this category. It can hide,lock and lock and hide or provide read only mode function. The GUI is decent.
But i would like to mention, once a user gives a password, for the program to start, it doesn't have an option to deactivate the password.
After the program is shut down, a file called hf.exe (C:\Program Files\Hide Folders 2012\hf.exe) keeps running in the background.
Disabling it from the Task Manager disables the hot key Ctrl+Alt+H.

It also creates a file fsproflt2.exe (C:\WINDOWS\system32\fsproflt2.exe)that starts the service and remains in the background consuming like 2 MB of memory which is not too much.

The program does , whats its made for, and thank you for this offer GAOTD. May be i'll use it some other time.

I never really understood the value of these types of programs in non-business environment. They offer a single license and a family license. Let's take a look at that: A single license for one computer - Don't I accomplish the same thing by giving only myself administrator privileges? A family license for multiple computers - Why would you give the kids the ability to hide stuff from you? (the kids shouldn't have Admin rights anyway, IMHO) If you're trying to hide stuff from your wife, invest in some counseling instead of a software program. The only reason non-business people like these programs is the sense of power it gives them. This is an ego-stroking program. *NOTE* - I would hate to have folders locked out and not be able to access in the event of some system malfunction. *NOTE NOTE* - Take a look at the DOS command ATTRIB, which offers similar function and is included in windows.

Installed and registered on WIN7-64BIT without problems.

This program is effective to protect folders from being accessed by unauthorized persons. This tool is easy to use with clean interface. Everyone can pick it up with ease.

5 protection methods: Hide, Lock, Hide & Lock, Read only, No protection. Moreover, you can use hot keys, integrate Hide Folders into Windows Explorer context menu and cease to run Control Panel at all.

All in all, it works well during test.

OTHER ALTERNATIVES:
http://www.videoconverterfactory.com/document-manager/
http://www.cleanersoft.com/hidefolder/free_hide_folder.htm
http://www.newsoftwares.net/folderlock/

Ok what happens if you install and hide folders on another HDD ...Drive C crashes and you lose the program.You can't access the hidden folders without the program.Thank you I will give it a miss.
But you can change any folder attributes to HIDDEN???????