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Protect Your Valuable Data with My Lockbox
It was during my research for an alternative security setup that I discovered My Lockbox that seemed to offer a simple effective solution for storing away my confidential information.
I had a particular problem. I wanted to hide the existence of my secret data.
There are plenty of free file and folder encryption programs but these don't hide the encypted folder or file, they just make it impossible to access the information. This has a real downside in that it flags to everybody that you are trying to hide something.
My LockBox solves this problem by removing the private file or folder from view. In fact the hidden folders can't even be seen by Windows itself. You can however make them visible at any time by running the LockBox application or better still, by using a special hotkey combination.
In fact I recommend you delete the application icons from your desktop and Start Menu and rely totally on the hotkeys. That's because once again, the very existence of the My LockBox icons can flag you are hiding something.
You can hide any folder but I strongly recommend you don't hide a Windows system folder like My Documents or My Pictures as hiding such a folder from Windows may cause unexpected problems. Instead hide a folder that you have created yourself.
I tried it out and it works well my only complaint being that you can only hide one folder.
I wouldn't rely on it to hide State secrets as it is not a secure encryption program but it's a very useful tool for keeping confidential information away from prying eyes.
Here's the website description:
"My LockBox is a security software enabling you to password protect any folder on your computer.
The protected folder (lockbox) is hidden from any user and application of your system, including Administrator and System itself. It is impossible to access the lockbox not only from the local computer, but also from the net.
The program is extremely easy to use. You can set the lockbox location and the password during the setup procedure. After the setup is done, lockbox will be hidden and locked until you enter the valid password.
My Lockbox Control Panel allows you easily change basic lockbox parameters: lockbox location, protection status, password.
In addition, skinned user interface lets you choose from different skins to select the most comfortable look and feel of the software"
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Comments
i formatted my operating system drive without uninstalling my lockbox version 1.2.
now i am unable to find the data. disk space is showing that data is there. how to recover the date..plz help
You will need to post the exact details of your problem together with operating system here in their forum.
http://fspro.net/forum/
Hi ive been using my lock box for a while now. but after a while of not accesing my hidden folder, i opened it and all the things inside were gone. the sub folders were still there but all my pictures and such were gone. Thanks in advance for any help.
Sorry, can't hazard any guesses about this one. I suggest you post in their support forum here:
http://www.fspro.net/forum/
Please include details about your operating system, security settings and other security programs installed.
A couple of things about this program. I used it for a while on my net-book and a desktop computer (win7). For some reason it stopped taking my password on the net-book after using it four a couple months. Unable to access the folder or uninstall the program from within windows on the net-book. If I remove the hard drive from the computer and put it in a usb HD dock, the My Lockbox folder and all its files are visible and accessible to move, copy, or delete from another computer (win 7).
I had the same problem in which the program stopped accepting the password after using it a couple of times,which i had installed it in xp sp3.I couldn't even uninstall it and lost the data since i had to format the drive.
Regards
max
Thank you for posting this information. I doubt that the second part will concern many as this software was not designed to remain effective under these circumstances. The password issue needs addressing however, and I suggest you post this in their forum together with full details of your OS.
http://www.fspro.net/forum/
After receiving some negative posts here about My Lockbox, I contacted the developers for their response which is as follows:
"Thank you very much for featuring our software.
Yes, My Lockbox version 1.2 and below may crash Windows Vista
operating system (and even Windows XP with SP3) into BSOD.
Since version 1.3, My Lockbox is free of this this BSOD bug - at
least we didn't receive such bugreports. That's why we strongly
recommend users to upgrade version 1.2 either to version 1.6 or to Hide
Folders 2009 (which is built on the same protection engine)"
It is possible that a bug still remains in this program which they will obviously be keen to fix. On the other hand, those posting these claims have yet to put forward anything useful which the developers can use to determine what might be the cause. If anyone is experiencing such issues with My Lockbox please can you post your OS details, plus a list of whatever security programs you might have installed and any other details which might help the developers.
As an FYI, I had it installed, and then I upgraded my computer and moved my old hard drive with Mylockbox on it to my new computer, forgetting I had installed mylockbox on it, and when I installed mylockbox on the new computer it couldn't recognize the old hard drive's lockbox... I lost all the files in the Lockbox...
I downloaded My Lockbox, installed it. I didn't use it though. But, I ran into serious problems with my windows 7 home edition: I couldn't start a growing amount of programs, including my Firefox browser after a while. I got the known "Windows cannot access the specified device..." etc and dialogues telling me that I had not the admin rights to do this or that.
So I went into safe mode. No problems at all. I started deactivating ALL my startup programs-including firewall and safety apps of which I do have some:-)
I rebooted with no startup programs at all (disabled with Winpatrol) but again I ran into the same problems.
After reading a lot about the issue, I started uninstalling some small programs I had downloaded the last few days. Reboot. Still the same problem.
Then, an hour ago I wasn't even allowed to open Firefox (IE did open though) I started uninstalling MY Lockbox. During the uninstall process, I saw Firefox popping up and I thought 'bingo'
And indeed, after a restart -needed after the My Lockbox uninstall- EVERYTHING ran again without any problem.
I might be wrong, but...
(By the way, I did send the developer my experiences)
Willem Rabbeljee
Thanks Willem for the feedback. I had already reverted my own machine back to XP for this one so can't try to replicate your W7 experience. I have been trying to make direct contact with the developer myself but as yet no response.
Certainly the program has had some issues but most of these appears to be with previous versions. Considering the interest in this program and the lack of negative responses with constructive data, one assumes that for most people it's working fine.
I have reviewed many such utilities, and this one is no different - it is vulnerable to DOS commands for handling folders and clearly shows up, for example, when you try "TREE > dir.txt". This may keep your files safe from your little sister, but not from anyone who is even remotely computer-savvy.
Here are a couple other interesting articles and discussions of hiding folders on TSA:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-folder-hiding-utility.htm
http://www.techsupportalert.com/how_to_hide_a_windows_folder.htm
@ #10:
TrueCrypt doesn't hide anything -- if by the word 'hiding' it is meant that the presence of an encrypted file or folder is undetectable.
Although the average computer user may understandably be oblivious to the kind of software used by forensic agencies, they surely ought to realise that common or garden apps can be bought and used by anyone to accomplish the same kind of detection.
Take, by way of but just one example, O&O Software's "DiskStat" (recently a freebie elsewhere on the Net.) DiskStat provides both a graphical representation of what's taking up space on a computer and a description of how many bytes are involved.
Given the nature of the "secret stuff" likely to be TrueCrypted, it's pretty much inevitable that an innocuously named file somewhere on the hard drive will, when password accessed and mounted, open a folder full of materials that in total are considerably in excess of the usual document, spreadsheet or image file collection.
Moral: though TrueCrypt provides encryption protection, it certainly doesn't provide. . . invisibility.
One click on the "Top 20 Space Hoggers" menu option in a relatively simple app like O&O DiskStat and there it is: a file whose presence is instantly visible to all.
And whose contents may well await explanation.
The myth of invisibility is exactly that: a myth.
Thanks for this information. This is a really sensitive subject- which could be debated amongst any family. If the computer in the home is for typical family use, there should be no requirement for lockbox. The best loving family, has complete openness and honesty. They hide nothing from each other. Parents position the computer where they can monitor the usage of it. My children are smart enough to know how they can bypass parental filters. But, i try to educate them in the dangers of internet predators, and the meaning and understanding of social engineering. I believe for my own piece of mind, i need certainty and self assurance, that i am able to CHECK and LOCATE, for the presence of hidden folders. Your anon reply, will give an extremely careful parent, the ways to check for password protected files......and i thank you for that. I cannot necessarily check the content of the folder. But, we are we failing in our relationship, for you to feel the NEED to have to hide something from your extremely loving, and caring parents.
I guess you suspect the answer to that question already: there is no answer. A family's inter-generational relationship can only thrive when founded on the twin bed-rocks of love and trust.
If the latter is abused then the former is jeopardised. If the former is not nurtured then the latter's rupture is inevitable.
We were lucky that our kids were born and grew up in a pre-computer era. Parenting had its problems then, but faced nothing like today's technological threats and challenges.
As I pointed out in my original post, the myth of invisibility is just that: a myth.
Trust, however, cannot be mythical. At all.
I need to request please that the comments in this thread now stay on topic. As a psychologist I fully appreciate the concerns of parents v kids and the internet, but please now confine your responses to opinions about the My Lockbox program itself. You are more than welcome to register and carry on this conversation in the forum. Currently, the only appropriate place for it is here:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/freeware-forum/chitchat/
... but if we get a request and some support for it we may consider creating a dedicated thread for "Families & The Internet" where both parents and the "opposition" can take part in a variety of discussions :)
If anyone is interested, register and send me a PM via the forum system and I'll see what I can do.
the secrets are the most things we don't any one see them,so it's fantastic . and thanks for this program
I still link WinMend Folder Hidden 1.4.0
http://www.winmend.com
Yes,it's a not bad free folder hiding software.
Just FYI - Using QTTabBar shows the hidden folder in the Undo Closed menu. You can't access the folder if it's locked, but it shows up on the list of recently closed folders.
This site is truly fantastic- and is really well run, with zero tolerance for bad manners, which i and other family members appreciate. As a matter of fact, i have referred your site more times than my therapist- and my therapist is amazing. I have got to take issue with this Lock Box hot find. My teenage sons and daughters are avid readers of this page, and quite honestly, it really frightens me that they will now have the capability, and understanding, of HOW TO HIDE, a particular folder, on the family computer. I realize this product has its legitimate uses, and all that good stuff.
But, sometimes, teens will misuse a well meaning product, for more questionable activity. My kids can find other sites, with this product, by a simple search from Google, i realize that. But, i cannot recall TSA ever listing such a 'hide all' program before. Does anybody at TSA ever consider the fact that, you are visited by a lot of computer savvy 13,14,15 year olds- who are pretty impressionable, and somehow, find it fun, to hide things from overbearing, security minded, extremely worried, worn out parents. Just curious really, as to TSA viewpoint, as to where certain software should not become prominent, on a brilliant, family website, such as this.
Alright, really, it is a true reflection on the state of the USA's culture this parents comment. "I have raised my children to the point where at this moment I cannot trust them in the world and therefore society must police my kids for me."
First of all, this is not a "brilliant, family website", it is a computer freeware website. Because the editors have enough intelligence to market this site to a wide audience does not take away from the website's focus, computer freeware.
Your display here is a good indicator of a large problem with American culture, not taking responsibility for your own actions. In your therapy, which I am questioning the benefit to you, perhaps diving deeper into yourself and why you are a "overbearing, security minded, extremely worried, worn out parent" would be positive for you and your children. Seriously, you are not doing any good to these kids in the long run.
But hey, I'm not in your shoes & in the end this is just IMHO.
Cheers,
Phil
Thanks for your reply and personal insight Phil. I would have liked the opportunity to rebuff your comments. But, respectfully, i will honor the editors request. Personally, i think MC has a brilliant idea, with regard to the family and kids page/thread. I really look forward to contributing.
We can appreciate your viewpoint but I think it's also fair to highlight the measures taken here to protect our family audience, such as our strict site ratings policy. We even have a review page for "Best Free Parental Filter" which is in the top 20 categories on the site in terms of visitors.
http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-parental-Filter.htm
We feature other products too such as anonymous surfing devices, file encryption and secure erase utilities, which would also fall into your area of concern and PC Games which can be highly addictive and also time consuming when kids are meant to be doing homework instead.
I find it interesting to consider not just what kids might be hiding but the reasons behind why they feel this is necessary. Often there is enough common ground to dispell fears on both sides, although I appreciate that communication in this area is always going to be a challenge.
If I use a bootable cd the folders show.
WinMend does not seem to have this problem of showing with a Barts bootable cd, so maybe a more secure program.
TrueCrypt can secure *and* hide the fact that you have files if you're sensible about naming and file size. Of course a file of exactly 1, 2 or 4Gb will attract attention. Of course a file named my-secret-files.dat will attract attention. So create a file of a semi random size like 1,413,591 bytes, named video-collection.mda and somebody might think it is an Access database, or name it video-collection.db and they might think it is a SQLite or some other database. Create two file, one as a .db and one as .idx and it becomes even more believable. Of course if somebody uses a file viewer or hex editor to look at the first few hundred bytes they won't see the "SQLite format 3" header, but it could be almost anything.
You could put it in C:\ and name it pagefile-previous.sys, or c:\Windows\System32\.sys, or C:\Windows\$NtUninstallKB920872$\.msi, or .cab, or .sys and most people would never find it, and if they did, they wouldn;t be able to open it if you have a decent password.
I used My Lockbox before. About 1 or 2 years ago. However, then there was some problems with BSOD. Hence, I stopped using it. Now, I'm using WinMend Folder Hidden. http://www.winmend.com/folder-hidden/
I think this is much better.
I have used WinMend Folder Hidden, and I found it really good. It hides the folder totally. But, it does not encrypt the folder contents. The contents are only protected by a password required for the main software, although the software does a good job of hiding the folder. The folder won't turn up even in the searches.
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