Using Passwords to Protect Your Documents

Hi,

I am under the weather this week so instead of posting the weekly tips I am re-posting my genealogy buddy, Pam Treme's post about password protecting a MS Word document.

I hope to be posting by the weekend - in the meantime enjoy this post from the Technology Tamers website!



I have had only rare occassions when I have added or used a password on a document. To me, genealogy applications would also be rare. However, applying a password is an option that you should be aware of in case you have occassion to use it. The choices you see below are all made when the document that you want to apply that password to is open.

Word 2010

1. Select File, Info, Protect Document, and then Encrypt with Password. The dialog appears.
2. Enter a password. Be sure to write it down so that you can open the document again.
3. Click OK. A confirmation dialog appears.
4. Enter the password again, and then click OK.
5. Close the document, and then open it again. A Password dialog appears.
6. Enter the password, and then click OK.

Word 2007

1. Select File, and then Save As. The dialog appears.
2. Click the Tools button at the bottom of the dialog. A drop-down menu appears.
3. Select General Options. The dialog appears.
4. In the field Password to open, enter the password. Be sure to write it down so that you can open the document again.
5. Click OK. A confirmation dialog appears.
6. Enter the password again, and then click OK.
7. Click the Save button, and then close the document.
8. Open the document again. A Password dialog appears.
9. Enter the password, and then click OK.

Word 2003

1. Click the Tools menu, and then select Options. The dialog appears.
2. Click the Security tab.
3. In the field Password to open, enter the password. Be sure to write it down so that you can open the document again.
4. Click OK.
5. Save and then close the document.
6. Open the document again. A Password dialog appears.
7. Enter the password, and then click OK.

Additional Notes

Can a password be cracked? Just about anything can be cracked by a pro. However, for the average user, this type of password is sufficent to protect a file.

While you're exploring the password options be sure to notice that there are also some editing options that you may want to look at. When you apply an editing password, everyone can see your document; however, only those readers with the password can edit the document.