There is a problem on Windows platforms that has not been addressed satisfactorily in my opinon: to hide the contents of folders from un-authorized view and change and -- most importantly -- to protect folders from accidental or willful deletion. Of course you can hide folders or assign permissions within the Windows file system, but that will not protect files and folders from outside intrusion. As far as I know, folders enrypted with Windows own Bitlocker cannot be decrypted, once the operating system has to be re-installed due to system failure. Could it be that MC's Virtual File System (registry, FTP, etc.) could offer a long sought solution?
Unfortunately, the in-built ZIP packer does not offer password protection. That would be good for a start. Of course, one might create an encrypted Truecrypt container and define it as a Favorite Folder within MC. But such an encrypted container (folder) would not be protected against accidental or willful deletion. The only solution that I have found so far is packing (and possibly encrypting) the contents of a folder in an archive file that is placed at the end of an hierarchically nested tree of subfolders. As a consequence, the packed archive cannot be deleted from within or without the Windows operating system. You will need a password to start the unpacking routine.
Is there another solution I am not ware of? Would it be possible to integrate such a packing routine into the MC virtual file system? How can I access a Truecrypt container from within MC if I define it as a Favorite. Any ideas are welcome.