how do we create a password in zip file

[shoebkool]

hi
i have a windows vista home premium in my laptop. i have created a zip file and in which i am trying to create a password so that no one can open it. but i am unable to find out of how to create a password in windows vista. plz help
thanks in advance
shoeb

 

[Spd2Last]

Hi shoebkool and welcome to the forums,

What program are you using to create your zip file?

 

[archi-bcn]

Hi, actually if you use the option "Send To / Compressed (zipped) Folder" as far as I know you cannot scramble the contents with a pwd. You should use some programm like winzip or similar that allow you to add a pwd on the zip file

 

[Ex_Brit]

Windows Vista, unlike XP, doesn't allow you to password protect natively zipped files. You would have to purchase Winzip or do a Google search for free zip utilities with password capability.

 

[johngalt]

Or, you could freeware alternatives, like 7-Zip or PeaZip: free RAR 7Z ACE PAQ TAR ZIP archiver utility

 

[archi-bcn]

7-zip is cool. manages not only zip but a lot of different compressions. I had it in my old XP and gave me lots of good results. Moreover it's available in sourceforge that's quite a good presentation card.

 

[Ex_Brit]

Don't ever recall 7-Zip being able to password protect a zipped file though.

 

[tonymazz]

What is interesting is that there was a recent virus that went around that a phony bank sent. It had an attached zip file with your bank statement attached and they gave you a password.... inside was a virus.

It was a success for xp but would not work in vista business.... (I work in a large company and do analysis on viruses etc).

 

[johngalt]

From the 7Zip website:

The main features of 7-Zip

• High compression ratio in new 7z format with LZMA compression
• Supported formats:
  • Packing / unpacking: 7z, ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2 and TAR
  • Unpacking only: RAR, CAB, ISO, ARJ, LZH, CHM, MSI, WIM, Z, CPIO, RPM, DEB and NSIS
• For ZIP and GZIP formats, 7-Zip provides a compression ratio that is 2-10 % better than the ratio provided by PKZip and WinZip
• Strong AES-256 encryption in 7z and ZIP formats
• Self-extracting capability for 7z format
• Integration with Windows Shell
• Powerful File Manager
• Powerful command line version
• Plugin for FAR Manager
• Localizations for 69 languages

Also, PeaZip is *also* a SourceForge project:

Fomr the website:


PeaZip is a free, open source file and archive manager.


PeaZip is cross platform, available as portable and installable software for 32 and 64 bit Windows (9x, 2000, XP, Vista) and Linux (PeaZip is a desktop neutral application).

• create: 7Z, ARC, BZ2, GZ, PAQ/LPAQ, PEA, QUAD/BALZ, TAR, UPX, ZIP;
• open: ACE, ARJ, CAB, DEB, ISO, LHA, RAR, RPM and many more archive types (72 file extensions supported, see full list).

PeaZip allows to save archive's layouts; apply powerful multiple search filters to archive's content; handle multiple archives at once; export job definition as command line; bookmark archives and folders etc...
Other features: AES256 encryption, robust file copy, split/join files (file span), secure file deletion, compare, checksum and hash files, system benchmark, generate random passwords and keyfiles.

Screenshots ​

Mirrors: PeaZip (SourceForge) | PeaZip.org

 

[Ex_Brit]

Weird, when I had it installed I never found that screen.

 

[johngalt]

Yeah, added just under a year ago (11 months tomorrow, or today, depending upon where you live)

4.43 beta 2006-09-15
-------------------------
- 7-Zip now can use multi-threading mode for compressing to .ZIP archives.
- ZIP format supporting was improved.
- 7-Zip now supports WinZip-compatible AES-256 encryption for .ZIP archives.
- New context menu items for .ZIP archives creating.
- 7-Zip now uses order list (list of extensions) for files sorting for compressing
to .7z archives. It can slightly increase compression ratio in some cases.
- 7-Zip now restores modification time of folders during .7z archives extracting.
- Some bugs were fixed.
- New localizations: Armenian, Marathi.

from http://www.7-zip.org/history.txt

 

[Ex_Brit]

Dang,
Is this the free version? I must have had an old version and I went and paid for a full version of Winzip thinking all along that 7-Zip didn't offer that feature.
Ah well, there's one born every minute they say.

 

[johngalt]

7Zip is always free - it is an Open Source project at SourceForge....

PeaZip is too.

 

[Ex_Brit]

Nice to know, when my year's sub to Winzip dies in 363 days time.

 

[johngalt]

I was one of the lucky ones - I got enamored with WinRAR back in the day and bought a license for it - lifetime upgrades.

Hopefully that will never change....

 

[Ex_Brit]

The only reason I wanted password protection was to submit suspect files to McAfee Avert labs and their instructions ask that you use Winzip "Zip 2.0" encryption. I see in Winzip that is different from the 256-bit setting so it must be a lower standard.
7-Zip by comparison seems only to offer 256-bit encryption, which is the highest.
So in a way, Winzip is better as it offers 3 types: Zip 2.0, 128-bit and 256-bit.

 

[johngalt]

Ahh, well, since you do that and they require that, then you're stuck with paying WinZIP for life :P

 

[Ex_Brit]

Gee whiz, thanks....LOL Just a note, I think this "Winzip ZIP 2.0 Encryption" is what XP uses.