How to password protect folders and open them in Windows Mac or Linux?
I know I could and should encrypt whole drives but I want another layer of protect specific folders when my devices are unlocked, a password. I want the folders to behave like regular folders where I can add or remove files as usual, without a clunky UX like password protected zips. I looked it up and didn't find any straightforward solutions.
Maybe create a separate partition and encrypt it so it asks for a password on mount, then unmount it when not in use?
this is your solution ☞ https://veracrypt.fr/en/Home.html or https://veracrypt.fr/
You can store files in a keepassXC database.
Cross platform you're sol, I'm afraid. If there's an option I'd like to know, too.
Usually I cover my requirements with acl in this case.
You can use 7zip to archive files into a .7z and protect it with a password. 7zip is cross-platform, it's available for Windows, Mac and Linux.
Edit: sorry, I see you have already evaluated this option. I don't know another method that would me more transparent.
That is massively insecure
Password protected zips are very easy to brute force so I wouldn't use them for anything