a method , system and computer program product for protecting access to a computer file are disclosed . in embodiments , the method comprises a user , employing a user computer , selecting a file , and creating a reference file to protect access to this selected file . when a requester uses a computer device to request access to the protected file , the reference file initiates a procedure to determine if the computing device is entitled to access the protected file by validating a series of computer components that uniquely identify the computing device . in embodiments , a set of specified computer configuration data is stored in a specified storage location ; and the series of computer components that uniquely identify the computing device are validated by comparing this set of computer configuration data with the series of computer components that uniquely identify the computing device .