Unix doesn't have "folders" - they are called directories. And Unix doesn't have password protected directories. There's something else that asks you for a password before it lets you access the files. But since you're unwilling to share the information what that something is, there's no way anyone could give you a solution. (Well, this is Perlmonks, so there are bound to be 10 people just guessing an answer (usually based on personal experience) - perhaps you're lucky and someone guesses right!)