The topic; "Please Add Password Protection to PortableApps", seems to crop up time and
time again. IMO, this is a truly unnecessary feature request since there is a FOSS program
that is specific to this type of functionality and does it very well.
TrueCrypt [http://www.truecrypt.org/] can be used in portability mode and; as such, is well
suited for just such a task.
I use it in conjunction with a partitioned portable hard drive. I use a 160GB USB portable
hard drive for my PortableApps home; of which, I've created a 5GB* unencrypted partition for
the TrueCrypt program to reside on. Fire up TrueCrypt, encrypt the other partition of the
drive and install your PortableApps Suite and programs to that area. As this is what I access
for my regular software usage, this drive is set to a specific drive letter and I then create the
standard menu shortcuts on my computers to access the programs directly without having to
launch the PortableApps menu. So, a shortcut to the TrueCrypt program to decrypt the drive for
program access and then direct access to all my portable applications via my standard Windows
program menu system. Of course, you can forgo the Windows menu system shortcuts and simply
utilize the PortableApps program menu system. I also keep copies of my documents and such in
the encrypted area so I have them as needed if I have to go mobile. Drive gets lost/stolen, no
worries... TrueCrypt is the only thing they can "see" on the hard drive. I keep 2 backup copies
of this drive; one offsite and one onsite... highly recommend keeping at least one backup just
in case. Aside from lost/stolen, the hard drive may simply die... they do that sometimes.
Note: You are forewarned... do not forget your password!
* The reason I created a 5GB partition was so that I could use that part of the drive as a quick
access area for things I needed quickly without the need to unencrypt for access. I help others
with computers a lot and I may only need to update a drive or program for them thus the necessity
of opening the drive to drop a driver or program onto it and then go to help them only to have to
do it once again is tedious and unnecessary. Of course, the unencrypted area can be any size you
choose, I simply chose that size due to my own needs and preference.
ADMIN: Possible to STICKY this post?