Windows 7 User Account Privacy

AMG762

I am using windows 7 Ultimate. I have other people use my computer so would like to keep the files on my computer in 'my documents' private.


I have tried to set up another user account as a standard user (not administrator) but they can easily access all my personal files.


Is there an easy way to do this by either preventing other users from accessing my files or maybe just keep the one user account and download another program to password protect my personal files?


Thank you

I_have_spoken

Is there an easy way to do this

That's what Windows 7 should do be default, so user's can see each other files from C:\Users\<name>

AMG762

I_have_spoken wrote: »

That's what Windows 7 should do be default, so user's can see each other files from C:\Users\<name>

Thank you for your reply. I am trying to stop this. So that other users can not see my personal files.


Is there a way to do this via windows 7 or maybe another program to password protect my files?


Thank you

John_Gray

Look at programs like Veracrypt for folders and files, and Axcrypt for individual files.

RobTang

Windows should not (by default) access to the users documents folder, only the shared documents area.


If you just want to use the build in access control, create a folder somewhere, right click it, goto the security tab and make sure only your user account is listed.
Not that anyone with admin rights can override the access control.

plutoniumpilot

Standard users shouldn't be able to view files stored in your user profile by default however there are "hacks" that can be used to get around this. If there is another administrator account on the same PC then that can bypass any file/folder (ntfs) permissions set on your user profile.

Check all the accounts on your PC and change the passwords for your admin accounts so only you know the password.

The best way to prevent access to any private documents is to use encryption - either use the built in encryption (right click on the folder -> click advanced under the general tab -> Tick "Encrypt contents to secure data" -> Click OK -> Click OK and select Apply changes to this folder, subfolders and files. The files can only be viewed when you are logged in.

A better alternative is to use truecrypt to create an encrypted volume which you can protect with a password.

There are other programs but truecrypt is the one i have used for years and still do.

tronator

AMG762 wrote: »

I am using windows 7 Ultimate. I have other people use my computer so would like to keep the files on my computer in 'my documents' private.


I have tried to set up another user account as a standard user (not administrator) but they can easily access all my personal files.


Is there an easy way to do this by either preventing other users from accessing my files or maybe just keep the one user account and download another program to password protect my personal files?


Thank you

Who is "they"? If other standard users can see files of a standard user, then there is something wrong on your PC. Is the drive by any change formatted with FAT32? Then you're out of luck. Only NTFS supports file permissions.

Of course, an administrator account can see everyone's files. Also, if you boot from a Linux or any other Rescue CD or connct die hard disk to onother PC, then your files will be visible. Only file encryption will prevent this.

I_have_spoken wrote: »

That's what Windows 7 should do be default, so user's can see each other files from C:\Users\<name>

That's certainly wrong. Or did you mistakenly wrote "can" instead of "can't"?

AMG762

tronator wrote: »

Who is "they"? If other standard users can see files of a standard user, then there is something wrong on your PC. Is the drive by any change formatted with FAT32? Then you're out of luck. Only NTFS supports file permissions.

Of course, an administrator account can see everyone's files. Also, if you boot from a Linux or any other Rescue CD or connct die hard disk to onother PC, then your files will be visible. Only file encryption will prevent this.



That's certainly wrong. Or did you mistakenly wrote "can" instead of "can't"?

My file system is NTFS.


I have noticed when logged on as the second user (Not Administrator) that when they try to access C/Users/(My Name)/Documents it says you don't have permission to access the files. Which is what I want.


But the second user can access my photos and other folders by using C/Users/(My Name)


How can I change this please?

tronator

AMG762 wrote: »

My file system is NTFS.


I have noticed when logged on as the second user (Not Administrator) that when they try to access C/Users/(My Name)/Documents it says you don't have permission to access the files. Which is what I want.


But the second user can access my photos and other folders by using C/Users/(My Name)


How can I change this please?

Right-click on that folder -> Properties -> Security tab

underneath the "group or user names" click Edit and remove the user you don't want to have access from the list.

J_B

I use a program called 'my lockbox' to hide some of my files

http://my-lockbox.en.softonic.com/

would that do??