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.
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
GroupàAccessàNo Access and
OthersàNo 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.
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