03-14-2007, 08:45 AM

I read a recent post about an app called disapear that I could use to hide private files.

I used it to hide a folder with all my personal stuff. When i opened the app yesterday, my folder had a ? instead of hide/show.... I tried removing the folder from the list to see if it would be visible and now it's still not anywhere that I can find it.

Anybody know how I can get this folder back???? i cant get to it at ll now.

03-14-2007, 09:06 AM

to show the Hidden file again using the terminal type (better yet.. copy/paste) the following:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool YES;killall Finder


Then to HIDE the "Hidden Files" Type (again, might want to just copy/paste) the following in the Terminal:

defaults delete com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles;killall Finder

You can also use the ONYX Parameters to "Show Hidden Files"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For anyone interested... To make a hidden Folder that can not be seen do the following:

Make a new folder somewhere easy for you to remember... To do this:
1) Open the finder window go into the "Home" Folder (will place it there).
2) Right click on an empty part of the finder Window.. select "New Folder".
3) Name the folder.. Let's use "p0rn"... Just for fun
4) Now go into the Terminal and type (best to copy/paste) the following:

mv ~/p0rn ~/.p0rn

Press enter after pasting the command
Note the "." in front of the second folder name

5) The folder and any/all of the contents within it are HIDDEN.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now that the the folder is hidden the easiest way to get back into the contents it open the the Finder window go the the "HOME" folder (see.. No "p0rn" folder)... Now press APPLE+SHIFT+G
A Window will roll out of the top of the finder window that Says: "Go To Folder:" Type the following (don't forget the ".") .p0rn
press ENTER

Viola... you are in your "hidden" folder, and can now access your... um... stuff.

03-14-2007, 09:45 AM

Interesting RIDE, but not truly secure. Anyone with a modicum of command line knowledge can see your hidden ...um... stuff, with the simple Terminal.app command:

ls -a

The "-a" option shows "all" files, including the hidden ones.

03-14-2007, 09:47 AM

This is true Mac57... anyone with a little terminal savvy can find ANY file ANYwhere... But the hidden files are out of sight to the VAST majority of people that do not have that terminal savvy.

03-14-2007, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by RIDE

This is true Mac57... anyone with a little terminal savvy can find ANY file ANYwhere... But the hidden files are out of sight to the VAST majority of people that do not have that terminal savvy.

dude, what happend to takin the cloak off?

03-14-2007, 09:49 AM

I seem to recall that there is a better way to hide files but don't remember what it is. I know for example that Mac OS X itself has lots of hidden files and folders that don't start with a dot.

A challenge to the Mac cognosenti out there: how do you create a file or folder whose name DOESN'T start with a dot and make it hidden. I *know* that there is a way...

03-14-2007, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by KoDorSean

dude, what happend to takin the cloak off?

In the Spirit of "Hidden" Files... I placed a "." in front of my user name

03-14-2007, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by RIDE

For anyone interested... To make a hidden Folder that can not be seen do the following:

Make a new folder somewhere easy for you to remember... To do this:
1) Open the finder window go into the "Home" Folder (will place it there).
2) Right click on an empty part of the finder Window.. select "New Folder".
3) Name the folder.. Let's use "p0rn"... Just for fun
4) Now go into the Terminal and type (best to copy/paste) the following:

mv ~/p0rn ~/.p0rn

Press enter after pasting the command
Note the "." in front of the second folder name

5) The folder and any/all of the contents within it are HIDDEN.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now that the the folder is hidden the easiest way to get back into the contents it open the the Finder window go the the "HOME" folder (see.. No "p0rn" folder)... Now press APPLE+SHIFT+G
A Window will roll out of the top of the finder window that Says: "Go To Folder:" Type the following (don't forget the ".") .p0rn
press ENTER

Viola... you are in your "hidden" folder, and can now access your... um... stuff.

Would simply not renaming the file in the finder except putting a dot in front hide it?

Select pr0n in Finder
Single Click to Rename
type .pr0n
Hidden?

03-14-2007, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by BIG D 04

Would simply not renaming the file in the finder except putting a dot in front hide it?

Select pr0n in Finder
Single Click to Rename
type .pr0n
Hidden?

OSX won't allow it... you'll get a pop-up saying "." files are for System files only...

You can make a hidden file (this is how I do it) straight with the Terminal mkdir .<whatever>

I just thinks it's easier for most people to make the Folder with finder, then simply rename/move "mv" the folder to a "." making it hidden.

03-14-2007, 10:26 AM

Yea just got that...

However you can do it if you are showing the Hidden Files, then you can just change the normal one to a Hidden One. That's how I done it anyway.

Apart from Copy and Pasting the Code for Terminal was quiet easy

03-14-2007, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by BIG D 04

Yea just got that...

However you can do it if you are showing the Hidden Files, then you can just change the normal one to a Hidden One. That's how I done it anyway.

Apart from Copy and Pasting the Code for Terminal was quiet easy

IMO it's a lot easier to just right click make a folder.. then simply use the "mv" command in the terminal...

as apposed to the: Open Terminal use the "Show hidden Files" command... create the Hidden folder... Go back into Terminal use the "HIDE hidden Files" command... Exit Terminal.

But hey... We all have different preferences.

10-09-2007, 11:45 AM

My GF sends me pics I'd like to keep private, especially, since we are always in that Apple store. So will this technique hide photos from an Apple Genius?

10-09-2007, 12:15 PM

It depends on how much of a "genius" he/she is... and how nosey.

The best thing to do would be to place a password protected .dmg within an invisible folder... That way, one would have to first find the invisible folder, then crack the password to access the .dmg (very difficult if your password is long, and uses both numbers and letters).

10-09-2007, 02:17 PM

Thanks RIDE, I'll try that

10-09-2007, 10:57 PM

Two words: Vanessa Hudgens

If your GF is sending you private pictures, makes sure that you keep them in an encrypted .dmg virtual volume. Otherwise, you never know where they might end up!