The ALTER= option applies
to all types of SAS files except catalogs. You can use this option
to assign a password to a SAS file or to access a read-protected,
write-protected, or alter-protected SAS file.
When replacing a SAS
data set that is protected with an ALTER password, the new data set
inherits the ALTER password. To change the ALTER password for the
new data set, use the MODIFY statement in the DATASETS procedure.
Note: A SAS password does not control
access to a SAS file beyond the SAS system. You should use the operating
system-supplied utilities and file-system security controls in order
to control access to SAS files outside of SAS.