In windows, there is an option to hide and show file/folder.
Can i hide and show file/folder in Linux? How to do that? Is it have a risk?

Thanks

you can prefix the filename with a "." (dot) example:

.ilberty.txt

the usual ls command won't list it (but using the option -a does. .

risk? - liberty.txt and .liberty.txt are two different filenames so you'll
run into problems if an app you use will make reference to liberty.txt but
you have named it to .liberty.txt

my suggestion: use access control lists instead.

try with filename or foldername with '.' prefixed
example #mkdir .test, touch .file
use ls with 'a' option to check the file/folder

Depending on whether you're using Konqueror (KDE) or Nautilus (Gnome), the option will be somewhere different, but there should be an option to Show Hidden Folders. In Konqueror, it's in View > Show Hidden Files. I assume it'll be somewhere similar in Nautilus (I don't have it installed, so can't check).

As mentioned above, to hide a file or folder, simply rename it with a . (dot) at the start of the name.I'm not sure I understand what sort of risk there might be - as far as I'm aware, there's no risk of losing the files, if that's what you meant.

Hope this helps.

I think "hiding" in Mcrsft exploder can be compared to a sort of filter, VFS kind of thing. GNU/Linux does not have any concept of "hiding" files. Well, it does but it's either weak ("hiding in plain sight" like moving the folder to ~/.Trash/ if you use a DE), weaker and 80ies-like (dot-names: 'ls -a'), cumbersome (compression plus encryption or loopmounting), requiring root rights (hiding in slackspace), invasive and requiring root rights for the method (encryption like encfs) or invasive and requiring root rights for the method and not legitimate (VFS-mangling). AFAIK using a File Manager to "hide" things can only accomplish that if your only view of the filesystem is always through that File Manager. And besides all of that root can see almost everything.

So I think the question is: who or what to "hide" the folder from?

Right. Hiding a file by prefixing it with a dot is more a matter of neatness than security (How annoying is it to scroll down dozens of dotfiles in mc?)
The files I really want to 'hide' are in an encrypted truecrypt partition, and its actually pretty easy to setup and use.

I agree with you..why do you want to hide files? do you think Linux is not safe enough ?

You fear dangers from the .net ?



you'd better use a good firewall moreover..try Bastille,it lets you hide/protect/lock a big quantity of files and settings,then leave active and loaded only the services and files strictly necessary,then change your password,use different password for root and simple user,burn the most important files on a cd/dvd/usb hd,then delete them from the hd,..you could also use a Pgp crypter..

For me,so it's more than enough..

Good luck !

Well, thanks for all responses. I am satisfied for all answers. For DOTT.EVARISTI, i don't mean that Linux is not safe enough. I just want to know everytjing on it.

Thanks

Well, that's a bummer...

If you are offering a samba share on your linux box, you can use the "hide dot files" option in the definition of the share. Then the dotted files won't show up in a windows users browser either. ( Unless the windows user elects to have hidden files displayed in explorer. )

I've heard there was a cripting utility called Truecrypt or something similar but i don't use it..anyway,if tou're interested,google for it..

Good luck