5 free privacy utilities to hide folders on your Windows PC

Almost every computer user keeps files that are personal, private and confidential, or important to be preserved as undeletable. It is especially important if you have a shared computer, which can be accessed by other family members, roommates, friends, or coworkers.

You may have files that are inappropriate for kids or other family members, or files with valuable information that can be stolen. Such files and folders need security protection so that intruders or unauthorized users cannot access, read, view, copy, move or delete them.

The important information will also be hidden from unauthorized access if your computer is lost or stolen.

In this post, we will present 5 freeware utilities, which will allow you to hide folders on your computer without been expert in PC security.

Note that these utilities are mostly recommended for home and personal use, while top secret commercial information may need to be secured with more elaborated encryption.

Wise Folder Hider

Wise Folder Hider is a freeware designed to hide your personal folder(s) or file(s) in your PC or in removable devices, when you are able to protect your privacy with passwords through easy steps.

Main features:

* Wise Folder Hider is a completely freeware with all functions operational, updates and basic technical supports available to all users.

* Only with a few simple clicks can you hide your private and sensitive data like docs, photos, videos, folders, etc.

* Mechanism of Two-Tier-Passwords makes the hiding safe enough: one password to log in and the other one to hide and unhide the data.

* You can simply drag and drop a file/folder into Wise Folder Hider. This feature is available in Win8/7/Vista OS (only when UAC is disabled) and XP OS.

* You can hide files/folders by right-click without opening Wise Folder Hider. You will be able to access/unhide these files or folders when you log in WFH.

* Wise Folder Hider can hide the entire Flash Drive as well as the folders and files in it.

Developers’ website: http://www.wisecleaner.com/wisefolderhider.html

Free Folder Hider

Free Folder Hider can hide and password-protect your files, folders, pictures, and documents in seconds.

Note that this program only hides the folders, and does not encrypt the files, so you do not need to worry about lost files because of forgetting the password or Windows system crash.

Main features:

* There are two ways to hide a folder. Click the "Add to..." button at program main form, and then choose the folder you want to hide. Or, you can choose and hide a folder from Windows Explorer.

* The hidden folders information are stored in the "Private Folders list", you can hide and unhide them.

* You can batch hide or unhide all folders in the "Private Folders list".

* If a folder is no longer need to be hidden, you can remove it from the "Private Folders list".

* If you need to format the hard disk or reinstall the Windows system, please remember to first unhide all hidden folders.

Developers’ website: http://www.freefolderhider.com/

My Lockbox

My Lockbox enables you to hide, lock and password protect almost any folder on your computer.

Main features:

* Extremely easy in use;

* Clear and convenient user interface available in more than 10 different languages;

* Hotkey combinations for basic actions;

* Instant data protection with no limits on size of the protected data;

* Password protection for locked data and program uninstall;

* Free edition limitation: protects one folder with unlimited number of subfolders. Professional edition protects unlimited number of folders;

* Supports all modern Windows operating systems (XP, Vista, 7, 8) including 64-bit editions;

Instant and safe online password recovery;

* Trusted processes feature lets backup, antivirus or similar software to backup or scan your protected folder;

* Protects folders even in Windows safe mode;

* Renaming upper-level folder would not reveal protected files;

Developers’ website: http://fspro.net/my-lockbox/

WinMend Folder Hidden

WinMend Folder Hidden is a free file/folder hiding tool. While ensuring the absolute system safety, this application can quickly hide files and folders on local partitions and/or on removable devices. The hidden files/folders will be safely hidden whether the drive is accessed in another operating system on the same computer or reinstalled on another computer. You can set a password for this application. Hidden data can be displayed and unhidden only when the user enters the valid password. The data is completely invisible to other programs or on other operating systems.

Developers’ website: http://www.winmend.com/folder-hidden/

Hide Folders

Hide Folders is robust and powerful Windows application for hiding folders with private data. Hidden folders cannot be accessed, viewed, searched or deleted. Other users will not be aware of their existence. There are no limits on number of folders to hide or on the file types, names, extensions or characters. Hide Folders is released under GNU General Public License and is free for personal and commercial use.

Main features:

* Securely hide folders with your confidential data

* Works on Windows XP and Windows Vista, supports NTFS, FAT32 and FAT file system.

* Password protection - folders can be unhidden only after entering a password within the program.

* Hidden folders cannot be uncovered by deinstalling the program.

* Unlimited number of folders can be hidden.

* Folders are hidden even in Windows safe mode.

Developers’ website: http://www.hidefolders.org/