Not all data is meant to be shared. Often you'll want to prevent information from being seen by just anyone. Microsoft Windows XP Professional provides several features for securing data. Although the methods are basic in nature, they'll be more than enough deterrent for all but the most determined hacker.
Protecting data from certain users is the situation our reader OptionExplicit faced when he asked for help in TechRepublic's Discussion Center.
How do I secure a folder/directory from being accessed by unauthorized people (from Windows explorer), but at the same time, give access to some programs that need to access that same directory or the files in it? The programs that will routinely access the folders are written in VB.
Solution 1
Windows XP Professional allows you to set permissions for a file or folder from the properties dialog, which you can reach by right-clicking the file or folder and clicking the Properties entry on the ensuing menu. In the Properties dialog, click the Security tab to get to an interface similar to that shown in Figure A.
Security tab
Visual Basic
Because OptionExplicit is using Visual Basic for his project, he will most likely have to add some code from the FileIOPermission class to check permissions for each user as he or she accesses the folder in question.
Solution 2
Another method for securing a folder or file involves encryption, which is also part of Windows XP Professional. Similar to permissions, the encryption configuration is reached by right-clicking the folder or file and then clicking the Advanced button on the ensuing Properties interface. The Advanced button brings you to a dialog similar to the one shown in Figure B.
Encryption
Play video
There are currently no comments for this post.