6 Ways To Hide Files

by Rich Menga on Oct 18, 2010

In the context of this article, the hiding of files covers in-plain-sight and not-in-plain-sight. You’ll understand what I mean by that as you read through this.

People have their reasons for wanting to hide certain files. Maybe you’re updating your résumé at work and want to keep it away from prying eyes. Maybe you have some super-secret plans for world domination. Maybe for reasons not meant to be spoken in polite company. I won’t ask.

There are many ways to hide files, but here are 6, each with an Effectiveness score of one to five stars (5 being best).

1. Renaming

A time-honored practice that is almost half-a-century old at this point. It works especially well when you change the file extension.

Old:

Renamed:

Known Issues : Will have to periodically get into lengthy discussions why the Orthodox church has 51 books in the Old Testament while the Protestants only have 39. Other lengthy discussions may include the attempt of answering the oft asked question of why the New Testament was not named Old Testament Lite: 27-Book Edition.

2. Hiding The File

Right-click file, left click Properties, check Hidden:

Known Issues: "Recently Opened" from the program you edited the file from will still open it right up. You will also forget where you put your file, and.. yeah, you can’t search for it either since it’s hidden.

3. Password Protecting The File

When editing documents, any decent editor will have a save-with-password option.

Known Issues: You will forget your password, or someone will guess it.

4. Emailing The File To Yourself, Deleting Inbox Copy, Keep "Sent" Folder Copy.

Amazingly, this is the last place anyone would look for a document you’re working on. This is a method best described as "security by obscurity."

Known Issues: Not recommended for use on a corporate email account because Exchange admins go batsh*t insane any time anyone attaches a file to an email (and justifiably so since the end users keep sending viruses OVER AND OVER AND– you get the idea.)

5. ZIP, RAR Or 7-Zip It With Password Protected Archive + File Encryption.

This method works very well and is very secure

. Not only are the files in the archive under password protection, but also have an extra layer of security with encrypted filenames so a scan of the archive will not reveal what’s inside.

Known Issues: This is yet another method not recommended for use at work. Archive files stick out like a sore thumb even when sitting on the hard drive not doing anything. At some point an IT Admin will raise an eyebrow or two at you – at which point you jump out a window in a caffeine-induced adrenalin rush from day-old coffee for a quick escape while screaming something about how you deserve a better parking spot, given your tenure at the company.

6. COPY /B (hide archive file inside an image)

This is basically exactly like #1 above but with some added perks.

Step 1.

Make a directory in the root of C drive called DONOTLOOKHERE.

Step 2.

Get a JPG. Any JPG. Any one of these will do. We’ll assume the filename is chuck_norris.jpg. Copy this file to C:\DONOTLOOKHERE.

Step 3.

Archive the files you want to hide to a ZIP, RAR or 7-Zip file. We’ll assume the archive file you create is secret.7z.

Step 4.

Copy secret.7z to C:\DONOTLOOKHERE.

Step 5.

Open a Command Prompt and type the following:

CD C:\DONOTLOOKHERE
COPY /B secret.7z + chuck_norris.jpg chuck_norris.jpg
DEL secret.7z
ECHO I AM AWESOME
EXIT

Close the Command Prompt window.

Step 6.

There is no step 6; you’re done. The only file remaining in the directory is chuck_norris.jpg at this point.

On inspection of the folder, the only thing shown will be the awesomeness that is Chuck Norris:

You, however, can right-click Chuck’s face, select Open then Choose Program:

…and from there select 7-Zip File Manager or other archive program of your choice. After that the archive program will be available as a choice whenever you right-click a JPG, to where you can open it up and see what’s in the secret.7z file you copied in the image.

Using this in combination with #5 above is probably the most effective way to hide files there is on a hard drive.

Known Issues: Suitable for small archives only. A small image with a huge filesize from the addition of a large archive sticks out too easily. Also, repeated viewings of Chuck Norris may cause the urge to buy the entire box set of Walker, Texas Ranger. If you experience this, try an image of MacGuyver instead. Or maybe The A-Team. But not ALF.