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How to Hide Folders in Mac OS X

Sometimes, it is not enough just to password protect files and folders. If someone knows you well enough, they might be able to crack your password, and all your efforts might be in vain.

Author: Tony Maria
Date: Jul 22, 2010 - 10:20:04 AM

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Sometimes, it is not enough just to password protect files and folders. If someone knows you well enough, they might be able to crack your password, and all your efforts might be in vain.

If you take the time and effort to hide folders in your Mac computer, you will benefit from both technologies. Password protecting your folder, and rendering your folder invisible so that others can neither see, nor misuse your folder.

Using Mac OSX Feature to Restrict Folder Access

Mac OSX allows you to restrict access to your folders, as follows:

Navigate to File->Get Info, or click Apple key + I
Open the Ownership & Permissions tab
Select Group à Access à No Access and Others à No Access options.

OS X allows you to specify read, write and execute access separately on individual file or folder basis to everyone within specific groups or the file owner.

Hiding a File Or Folder Using Mac OS X Finder

You can hide a file or folder in Mac OSX so that the Finder tool will not be able to locate your file. To do this, you must run the setfile command line utility. This command line utility is included in Apple’s Developer Tools, which is a highly recommended optional install included in any Mac OS X install/restore CD/DVD. This command line utility is also available as a rather large download from Apple’s Developer center. Make sure that you have this command line utility installed before executing the following command.

To hide a file or folder using Mac OSX Finder, type the following command in your Terminal window:

setfile -a V < name of folder or file >

The file or folder name that you mention after the Setfile –a V command disappears immediately from the Finder GUI. Your file will still exist in your hard disk, but you will not be able to find them via Finder anymore. You can find the file again but only through the command line

To view your hidden folder or file again, type the following command in your Terminal window:

setfile -a v

Once this command is executed, you will be able to view the file in Finder again.

Using Third-party Tools To Hide Folders

If you want a more exacting method of protecting your folders, you can opt to use a third-party tool that is specifically designed for Mac users.

Application 1: Apimac Secret Folder

This program provides an easy and fast way to protect personal documents and prevent others from viewing, modifying or erasing your folders. Secret Folders is very useful to keep your information away from prying eyes or kids who may accidentally modify or delete your files. This tool allows users to hide folders and their contents. Files and folders can be added to the protected folders, through a single click on a choose dialog box or via drag and drop.

Password protect the Secret Folder application : If you want to make sure that no one uses the Secret Folder application to unlock your hidden folders and files, you can password protect the application, using the Require Password option. When this option is selected, you will be prompted for the application password when Apimac Secret Folder is started.

Tony Maria, a professional Mac developer, main specialization fields data encryptor apps that can hide folders Mac as well as eraser Mac solutions.

View all articles by Tony Maria

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