Home-Payment systems-Three ways to hide personal files from strangers on your computer. How to hide files in NTFS

Three ways to hide personal files from strangers on your computer. How to hide files in NTFS

Sometimes there is a need to protect personal files or folders. This is especially true if more than one person is working with the computer. One solution is hiding. Of course, it will not help in the case of an experienced user. But it will hide information from unsuspecting eyes.

How to hide/show files and folders on a Windows 7 computer

Standard method

To hide a file or folder, you need to go through two steps:

Disable visibility of hidden folders


If the “Do not show...” option is set in the settings, then hidden files and folders will still be displayed, with the only difference being that the label for such objects is dimmer compared to a regular element.

Changing folder/file settings

After these steps, the folder or files will become hidden and will not be displayed.

Enable visibility and view

To show hidden items, you need to go to the folder settings and check the box next to “Show hidden files, folders and drives.” And for a specific object to stop being invisible, you need to uncheck the “Hidden” option.

How to make a folder invisible - video

Via Total Commander

This method is related to the previous one in that in the “Folder Options” there should also be a checkmark next to the “Do not show hidden files, folders and drives” item.

How to view files and make them open

To show hidden files and folders, press Ctrl + H.

To make documents visible again, you need to use the Alt + A combination and uncheck the “Hidden” checkbox.

Via Free Hide Folder

If you want to be sure that no one can see hidden information, you can use the Free Hide Folder program, which requires setting a password.

Free Hide Folder does not hide individual files. Available for free download on the Internet.

  1. When you launch the program for the first time, a window will appear in which you need to enter and confirm a password. By the way, you will also need it when uninstalling the program.
  2. The next window will ask you to enter a registration code, but this is not a requirement. To continue working, you need to select Skip.
  3. Then click on the Add icon and select the folder that you want to hide.
  4. After the folder is selected, a message will appear indicating that it is advisable to make a Backup. It is advisable to follow the advice.

    Backup saves information about the program. If the latter is deleted, then after re-installation, access to hidden folders will be restored.

In addition to Add, the general window has buttons for:


How to find hidden information and transfer it to a flash drive

Free Hide Folder hides folders so that they cannot be found using search. The only way is to open the program and select the Unhide tool. Another special feature is that it does not hide documents located on removable disks.

Since Windows search cannot detect documents hidden using Free Hide Folder, copying cannot be used. Thus, invisible folders cannot be transferred to removable drives.

Using an image and an archiver

For this method you will need a folder with files, any image and the WinRAR archiver. The program is available for free download on the official website. In this case, the processor bit capacity must be taken into account. To find out, you need:


You can take any image, there are no restrictions.

  1. Add the desired folder to the archive.
  2. Place the archive and the image in one folder, preferably located in the root of the disk.
  3. Using the Win + R combination, launch the Run tool, enter cmd in the line and click OK.
  4. In the command line, go to the folder where the archive and image are located. To do this, enter the cd command and the address. In this case it is cd c:\.
  5. Then press Enter.
  6. Now in the line you need to write the names of the image, archive and new file. Also, extensions must be specified in all three positions. In this case it turns out: COPY /B Image.jpg + FolderWithFiles.rar ImageWithArchive.jpg.
  7. Press Enter. If everything was written correctly, a message will appear on the command line indicating that the files were copied.

If you now open the created file, only the image that was taken as a basis will open.

The original files can be deleted.

How to view hidden files

To be able to view files hidden in the image, you need to open the illustration itself using WinRAR.

But the archiver must first be added to the list of programs that can open images:

  1. In the “Open with” menu, click on “Select program”.
  2. Click on “Browse” and in the window that opens, find the folder with the archiver.
  3. Open the folder and select the program launch shortcut.
  4. Next, WinRAR will appear in the list of programs that can open the image. You also need to uncheck the “Use the selected program for all files of this type” option. Otherwise, all images will be opened using the archiver.

When the user opens the image using the archiver, it will be visible that there is a folder inside.

But don't hide too much information in one file. If it takes up tens of megabytes, even an inexperienced user will become suspicious.

Possible errors

How to enable the “Show hidden files and folders” option

Sometimes a situation occurs that the user activates the “Show hidden files and folders” option, but the switch automatically switches to the “Do not show hidden files and folders” position. In this case you need:


Otherwise, the parameter must be created. To do this, right-click on a free area of ​​the window, select “New”, then “DWORD Value”. Call it CheckedValue and give the value 1.

  1. Go to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced.
  2. Find the Hidden parameter (with value 0), type REG_SZ, in the list and delete it.
  3. If the list contains a Hidden parameter, type REG_DWORD, then change its value to 1. Otherwise, the parameter must be created.
  4. Find the SuperHidden parameter, type REG_DWORD, in the list and change its value to 1.
  5. Press "F5" to refresh the editor window and close it.

What to do if Folder Options is missing

This usually means that viruses have entered the system. Perhaps the antivirus simply failed to identify and remove malware. And so that the user cannot visually detect them, the authors of such applications use the “Hidden” or “System” attributes. In addition, the “Folder Options” menu item is removed.

Even if the malware is removed, the antivirus will not be able to restore this item. This will need to be done manually:


The Registry Editor may not have been blocked after a virus attack. In this case, you can use it:

  1. Using Win + R, launch the Run tool, enter regedit in the line and click OK.
  2. Go to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer.

In the right part of the window, find the NoFolderOptions parameter, type REG_DWORD. Double-click LMB to open it and set the value to 0.

Hiding files and folders is a quick and easy way to protect your personal information. Of course, the first two are less reliable, and sophisticated users can accidentally or intentionally discover the secret. But FHF and the archiver will hide personal data even from experienced eyes.

Hi all!

This feature is simply necessary when someone else is using your computer.

After all, this “someone” can “accidentally” spy on your personal information.

Or children use the computer - their “activities” can generally lead to the destruction of personal data.

I’ll tell you how to hide files on your computer, using the example of the currently most popular operating system for personal computers – Windows 7. I use it for both work and entertainment, and I think most readers do too.

Established funds

So, let's get straight to the point. The first method is based on using the capabilities of Windows itself - those tools that are created to hide important operating system files from the user in order to avoid harm to it. The method allows you to make arbitrary files and directories invisible. The important thing is that any conflicts with Windows are excluded, since everything is done using its own means.

How is this done? For experiments it is better to create a new folder:

  1. select a free area on the desktop,
  2. click with the right mouse button,
  3. click “Create”,
  4. then - “Folder”.

That's it, a “New Folder” has appeared on the desktop. Now open its properties (again through the right button) and check the “Hidden” attribute, click “OK”.

As a result, the new folder should either disappear or become semi-transparent. In the second case, additional manipulations need to be done.

We turn to the “Control Panel” (through the menu opened by the “Start” button), where in the “Folder Options” section, open the “View” tab and check the box next to the line “Do not show hidden...” (at the bottom of the list of options). Click “Ok” and that’s it, the new folder on the desktop has become invisible!

To “return” it (as well as any other hidden directories), that is, to make it visible and accessible, you just need to set it to “Show hidden files, folders and drives.”

The method is proven and reliable, and does not require additional programs or any special knowledge.

There is only one minus - a person who is well versed in computer intricacies can easily find your personal files if desired, by disabling hiding in the settings. But someone who doesn’t know how to find what’s hidden will try to “dance” away from the search, however, even after entering the name of the hidden file correctly, he will not receive any information about it from the operating system - the file is not there, and that’s it!

A tricky way to hide information

If you want to make it so that some video file on your computer cannot be watched, then you can simply change its extension (the icon of the video file will change and it will not be possible to play it with a simple click).

To do this, select “Rename” in the menu with the right mouse button, edit the file name - replace (or remove) all the characters after the period, usually there are three of them. Although... it’s better not to change it, but to add one more dot, and after it put three new symbols, which obviously will not match any standard extension.

For example, the following are suitable: 00A, 11B, 5AB... (with numbers). In the future, to return the normal extension, you will simply need to remove the added one.

This method works with files of any type (but not with folders): Word documents, pictures, executable files...

The problem may be that the extensions are not displayed by the operating system. Then you need to go to the settings before renaming (as described in the previous paragraph), turn off hiding extensions, and turn it on again after renaming.

A knowledgeable person, of course, will be able to figure this out, but this may take a lot of time.

You can hide it in the archive

A good option might be to use . An appropriate program, for example, WinRAR or 7-Zip, will help you securely hide documents or photos. As a rule, there is no need to select strong compression in the settings, but assigning a password to the archive is mandatory.

By moving files and folders to a password-protected archive, you will leave no chance for anyone to use them. Write down the password so you don’t forget.

The network is full of software that solves the problem of, if not hiding files, then prohibiting or restricting access to them. As a rule, these are encryption programs. I strongly advise you to use such programs carefully (and!), otherwise your files may become inaccessible to you.

For those who want to understand this topic thoroughly, or simply become a more experienced PC user, there is a training course “ Computer genius" I advise you to take it, as a result of training you can learn a lot of useful and interesting things from the world of computers.

Sincerely! Abdullin Ruslan

Music or video file. Today I will show you how to hide files in NTFS using a forgotten method.

How to hide files in NTFS?

The simplest way to hide some information in NTFS is to put it in an alternative stream (Alternative Data Stream, hereinafter referred to as ADS). The trick is as old as the world itself: it is already more than 15 years old.

Those bearded guys who programmed in those years will confirm that this feature was added to the file system for compatibility with the Apple system. Nowadays, alternative streams are rarely created. I’ll briefly go over the main subtleties and examples of using hidden flows.

  1. First, when a file is created on the system, the data is written to the standard $DATA stream. Any user, even a “disenfranchised” user, can create additional streams to files, even to those for which he, in fact, has no rights.
  2. Secondly, information in streams can not only be stored, but also launched. Further, streams can be created both for files and for directories (although the latter cannot be used to run a file).
  3. Fourth, the size of the actual file does not change, and Explorer does not display additional threads.
  4. Fifthly, when sending files, for example, by mail or to a flash drive, only the standard stream is copied. That is, we have a fairly light method for hiding information, for example, at work.

Malicious programs also use this method to hide files in NTFS, but ADS has not been a problem for antiviruses for a long time. Now for practical examples.

We write the text to an additional stream - secrets.txt
echo "some secrets" > test.txt:secrets.txt

Click if you can't copy.

Reading the text from the secrets.txt stream
more< test.txt:secrets.txt
notepad.exe test.txt:secrets.txt

Write the executable file to the stream
type C:\windows\system32\calc.exe > test.txt:calc.exe

Run the file from the stream (you need to specify the full path)
start c:\test.txt:calc.exe
wmic process call create \\.\c:\test.txt:calc.exe

Since not all programs support additional streams, you may have problems opening them. But it can be solved by creating symbolic links using mklink.
mklink link_fi le.txt test.txt:secrets.txt

Previously, there were no built-in methods for viewing streams in Windows - but now you can use the standard command for listing directories with the /R argument:

By the way, another interesting feature for everyday life. Everyone knows that *nixes (UFS) have hard links to files, that is, we actually have one file, and there are many links to it. Moreover, they can be scattered throughout the system.

So in NTFS there is also such an opportunity, but for some reason it was “forgotten” and is not particularly used. The only limitation for NTFS is that hard links can only be on one logical drive.

In XP this is done like this:
fsutil hardlink create new_link source_file

Starting with Vista, this is done using the mklink utility with the ‘/h’ argument:
mklink /h new_link original_file

You may also be interested in the article "". That's all for today. Now you know how to hide files in NTFS. Good luck and information security to everyone!

From time to time, all PC users have a need to hide some files or folders from prying eyes. Of course, if you simply want to prevent certain directories and their contents from being of interest to your young children, it is quite enough to use the Windows tools and make them hidden. At the same time, you need to understand that such protection is very unreliable, and if you change the settings in Explorer and check the “Show hidden files, folders and drives” option,

how all of them will become available to anyone working at your PC. And even without changing Explorer settings, they can be seen in a file manager like Total Commander, and in some archiver programs.

How to hide files on your computer?

It is much safer to hide files and folders using special programs, of which there are quite a lot of both paid and free software. The principle of operation of all these applications is that the user launches the application, finds and specifies the folder or file that he wants to hide, clicks the appropriate option, sets a password, confirms the command and, if everything is done correctly, makes sure that the folder or file is no longer visible on his computer. To restore access, the user will need to open the program and enter the previously specified password. Among the good and free software, it is worth noting Anvide Lock Folder and WinMend Folder Hidden. Both programs are not overloaded with additional and unclaimed functions, they are understandable and Russified. But, despite the fact that it is impossible to gain access to hidden files and folders without a password and additional manipulations, it would still be a mistake to consider this method of protection reliable.

Firstly, you can see hidden directories and files if you load a “live disk” with almost any operating system.

Secondly, if someone wants to remove your hard drive and connect it to another computer, all your secret files and folders will be visible in full view.

Thirdly, even just booting Windows into Safe Mode will make all your hidden files and folders using a program like Anvide Lock Folder visible.

Of course, all these actions must be performed consciously, that is, someone must be purposefully interested in revealing your secrets, but the imperfection of this method is also obvious. Also, the very presence of an application for hiding the contents of a PC can give away the user’s head. Therefore, try not only to remove the shortcut from the desktop, but also to remove the application from the list of installed programs.

Encrypting data on your computer

The most secure method is encryption. Encrypted files cannot be opened due to any manipulations with “live disks”; they also remain unreadable when trying to connect the disk to another PC. But how to encrypt files and folders and won’t this require special knowledge? In fact, everything is simple, you just need to select the appropriate program and use it to perform a few simple steps. It's nice to note that encryption software is small in size and many very decent utilities are free. A number of software of this type not only encrypt files, but also reliably hide them, disguising them as objects that will not arouse any suspicion in anyone. If we talk about examples of such applications, these are TrueCrypt, Rohos Mini Drive, Free File Camouflage. If TrueCrypt helps to encrypt and make invisible not only files, but also any disks or system partitions, then Free File Camouflage offers a very elegant solution for hiding files whose size does not exceed several megabytes. Using the program, we simply place the file that we want to make invisible into some image. Now the “secret” file can be stored even on the desktop, enjoying the thought that its contents are inaccessible to others.

Hidden files (folders) are hidden folders or files. That is, those that are not visible, but in fact they are there.

How hide file (folder)? The simplest solution:

1) right-click on the file or folder and select “Properties”.

2) check the box next to “Hidden”. For example, like this:

Important folder here Documents and Settings just hidden:


Many users know how to see and open hidden files. So think about whether something is worth “hiding.” After all, if the notebook says “Top Secret. Do not open or read under any circumstances,” then the temptation to open and read is much greater than if this had not happened.


Typically, on a computer, many hidden files are located on the Local Disk where the operating system is installed (usually “C”). This is so that you don’t accidentally spoil anything, because if you delete them or change the name, the computer may start to work poorly or stop altogether. So you need to be careful with system hidden files and folders.

How to view hidden files(folders). And you can see them like this:

“Tools” (at the top of the window) -› “Folder Options” -› “View” -› “Show hidden files and folders” (at the bottom) -› “OK”

Hidden folders are not shown here (files are hidden):

To show hidden files and folders, select this item:

Files and folders that are hidden will be lighter than those that are not hidden.

Hide a folder or file from others

There are many programs on the Internet for hiding individual folders and files from other computer users. These programs offer a simple method for hiding folders by filtering requests to the file system. But this does not mean 100% data protection.

In fact, look through other means. If more reliable protection is required, you should turn to serious cryptographic packages.


One of the biggest desires of the user is often the desire for programs and other data to be somewhere away from prying eyes. The most common way to do this isuse programs to hide files and folders.

There are quite a lot of them now: Folder Lock Hide Folders XP, Use standard tools in Windows: mark the folder/file as hidden, on NTFS volumes - deny access to the folder/file by specifying the rights to access the object.

But not all utilities for hiding folders will reliably hide your data. Moreover, an even smaller number of them, in addition to hiding them, will reliably protect them with encryption from various techniques. Many of these programs hide folders and files for only one operating system.

This is good if one operating system is installed on the PC - but what if there are several of them? From one system the data will not be visible, but from the other - everything is in full view!

One of the methods data protection is their encryption. This is so reliable protect your data.

Everything is quite simple. You select the data you need and assign a password to access it. If only you know the password, then only you will get access to the information!

To further enhance reliability of data storage, they are encrypted. That is, using special encryption algorithms, they transform the data in such a way that even if the file is opened, it will be impossible to read it - it will be a mess. To convert the “porridge” into normal data, they are decrypted using the same encryption algorithm.

In general, these technologies are based on data protection from unauthorized access lies the science of cryptography, which is part of the science of cryptology. In turn, this science uses various methods and algorithms, which we will now get acquainted with.

To ensure that your information, after being encrypted, turns into “information garbage”, a meaningless set of characters for an outsider, specially developed methods are used - encryption algorithms.
Such algorithms are developed by mathematicians or entire teams of employees of companies or research centers.



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