If you have sensitive data you'd like to keep from prying eyes in a Microsoft Excel file, the easiest way to protect it is with Excel's built-in password tools.

Working with an Excel workbook that contains confidential information such as financial data, personal details, or trade secrets? Here's how you can protect the data in your Excel file from prying ...

In Word, Excel, or PowerPoint for Windows, open the file you want to protect with a password, then select File and Info. You should see a Protect option at the top of the next list: Click this ...