Protecting files with a password or encryption

Hi

What is the simplest, cheapest (by that I mean free), way of password protecting or encrypting sensitive files? I don't mean porn, rather word docs and pdfs. Ideally something that would work on an external harddrive that some thieving bastard who might get their hands on it wouldn't be able to open.

Ive had a goosy at download.com, but everything is only free for a trial or is too complex for people with my computer know-how.

Any tips?

Cheers muchly.

PGP

The quickest and easiest way:
1) On XP you can create a Compressed folder (Right Mouse button, New -->Compressed folder)
2) Drag a file or files into that folder.
3) Open the folder in explorer
4) On the File menu choose "Add a password"
Alternatively Winzip or other compression program will do it.

The fancy way is to encrypt an entire partition using Truecrypt (free) or something similar. This may be more productive if you want to be constantly editing or exchanging those documents as it is done on the fly.

Exactly, compressed files/folders can be password-protected, so use the Winzip feature already installed on your computer, or download the more flexible WinRAR.

You can also directly password protect.

For Word files: "Save As" then "Extras" (top right-hand corner of window) then, on a German OS at any rate, "Sicherheit" (secutity) and then the "Kennwort zum Öffnen" (password to open)

PDF: Click "File" (top left-hand side) then "Document Properties" then "Security" then in the "Security Method" drop-down menu choose "Password Security"

thanks guys. i just tried and can actually manage that! *proud of oneself, smug grin, solitary high five*

presumably that or those compressed files can float about easily between various external drives etc etc?

also, what is more flexible about winRAR?

i'm pretty sure that i've learnt more on this forum than i did during my degree.

Try GnuPG

Okay, so it isnt exactly click and encrypt but its definitely secure and it only took me about 30 minutes to work out the basics. Best of all, its completely free.

Safeguard Easy, been using it for years, very very secure.

A major premiere-hacking ring was arrested 6 years ago, two of the hard drives were encrypted with safeguard, the Kripo couldn't access the files, basically you hit it with a wrong password you wait a period of time until you can try again, each wrong attempt doubles the amount of time you have to wait until you can access it again. So their brute-force hacking methods were no use.

Just don't forget your password or you're in trouble.

Yes. I send compressed zips via email regularly as they circumvent our email filtering at work that block exe and bat files.
I like the simplicity of the password protected word documents suggested by Janx Spirit. But I have Open Office which protects Word documents but does not seem to do PowerPoint documents. Maybe MS Office has it. But that's not free.

The best fastest and cheapest (aka: FREE) product to encrypt files or an entire hard drive + lots of other
features is Truecrypt. It also has add-on modules, so you can mix/match
as many different encryption schems as you want.

PGP, GPG, while good and free are not really that great in their free form. If you want better options
you must pay for a commercial ver...

Truecrypt is used by many large corps. and even the Govt. It offers hidden volumes, Hidden OS's
and multiple passwords, with can access different content. Say if you get busted and are forced to
give-up you password, you can give-up the boges password and point whoever to useless content..

I Suggest you goto the TC website and read up..