How to hide personal docs when pc in repair shop?

OnePound

Hi
I got a new hard drive for my pc 6 months ago and ive been having minor issues with it since so the repair guy has said to bring it back to the shop and he'll take a look. He may well end up installing a more current version of windows 10.
How can I hide or password protect my folders? I dont want him seeing my personal documents. Whats the best way to go about this? Bear in mind he may reinstall windows.
Thanks

dj1471

Copy them off to a USB drive or CD/DVD and delete them from the computer. You should back them up before taking the computer in anyway.

Neil_Jones

Most of the time you'll be told that the shop will not accept responsibility for personal data so if it does go and you haven't backed it up it'll be your problem.

You can't really "hide" them as such, and even if you delete them software is available to recover the files anyway - but that being said most PC shops really aren't that interested in your personal stuff anyway.

With one possible exception - I'm not insinuating anything about the OP here, I've included this for fullness - if the repair shop finds evidence of or suspect you're doing something illegal, then the fact the shop found it will be the least of your problems, lets put it that way. That was Gary Glitter's downfall and the rest of that story is well known.

Frozen_up_north

There are a couple of issues here. Firstly if the laptop failed completely how would you recover the data? Secondly, if the laptop was stolen would the data be embarrassing or a security issue in someone else's possession?

Any data that relates to 3rd parties, e.g. club membership lists, is subject to the data protection act and needs to be stored securely.

The first is easily solved with a backup, the second with an encrypted virtual drive using Veracrypt (https://sourceforge.net/projects/veracrypt/). Don't forget to securely wipe the free space on the disk and use a long and complex password.

poppellerant

For the sake of hiding a few files from a computer shop, there are some over protective suggestions being made.

Just buy a USB stick and move the files to that, making sure the files aren't in their original location when finished.

Frozen_up_north

poppellerant wrote: »

For the sake of hiding a few files from a computer shop, there are some over protective suggestions being made.

Just buy a USB stick and move the files to that, making sure the files aren't in their original location when finished.

Veracrypt is extremely easy to use in order to secure a "folder". It's also easy, if a little slow, to wipe free space on a disk using free utilities like Ccleaner.

If anyone doubts the ability of nosey computer technicians to undelete/read anything they can find on a hard disk they are living in a dream. A friend was given an ex-work laptop by a neighbour, it had been to a computer shop for "cleaning" before disposal... it contained a full set of accounts, customer lists, supplier lists, tax returns, etc!

As far as data security goes, do not trust anyone, especially computer technicians.

forgotmyname

As mentioned if important you need another backup/copy elsewhere.

If the shop install windows then they may install a totally fresh copy where the drive will be wiped so your files will be gone anyway.

If the shop have the tools your deleted files could be recovered quite quickly.

8 character (or less) passwords can be cracked fairly quickly these days.

I remember when it would take a month, now it could be done in a couple of days and even quicker spread over a couple of machines.

AndyPix

OnePound wrote: »

He may well end up installing a more current version of windows 10.
How can I hide or password protect my folders?

By installing a fresh version of windows, he/she will be erasing the contents of the hard drive anyway.
So as suggested above, copy off your files to a usb stick or external HDD and then remove them from the computer.
But just bear in mind , that any determined computer expert will be able to get at them regardless.


Unless you work for MI6 - dont worry about it

Le_Kirk

Make sure also that you have CD/DVD's for any software that might be on the machine such as Office, Photoshop, Money etc.

longwalks1

As everyone has said, USB memory stick. I have 2 that I back up to, just in case anything happens to the first one (unlikely I know). For the sake of £10 for each mem stick, its a small cost for reassurance