Is it still safe to rely upon windows' encrypting file system?
Data protection is one of the most important and prevalent issues nowadays all around the globe. It is because of this bitter reality that the data stored in our computers and laptops is not safe anymore and is highly vulnerable to a myriad of menaces. Information Technology has without a doubt revolutionized the whole process of how we conduct our business and professional transactions. We use PCs almost every day to conduct a variety of operations and therefore, also amass ample amounts of our confidential information in them. As the technological scenario is advancing at a rapid pace, it has also bred a number of threats that are of critical and immediate importance.
It should also be noted that data protection and its security has always been a big problem and an issue of high importance. As IT users use computers to save majority of their data, it is also very essential for them to deploy such techniques and measures that ensure that their personal and professional files and folders remain safe from malicious activities.
The feature of file encryption is becoming more and more popular these days with many IT users these days, adopting this data security feature. In the beginning, there was not much awareness among home based common users about right data protection techniques, but thanks to the high tech advancements, these security measures are now also in access of normal user. File encryption is a feature by which data is encrypted into coded language, therefore, it becomes very difficult or in majority of cases impossible, for unauthorized a user to gain access to the precious and secretive documents. It should be kept in mind that hackers and privacy violators are some genius minds and therefore, can crack or break into systems without much difficulty. They can then use this classified information to gain monetary benefits.
The feature of file encryption is also present in Windows Operating System. It is named as Encrypting File System (EFS). This technology allows users to encrypt their files transparently to protect their confidential data. However, there are certain major drawbacks and limitations of this feature. Firstly, as local administrator is the default recovery agent in Windows, therefore he can decrypt all the files and folders, meaning there always remains a chance that someone can decrypt the records. Secondly, if a hacker gains access to Windows and changes/resets the local user's account password, he can log into the system and after gaining access to the key can easily decrypt the important files and documents. These are the main drawbacks why Windows encryption feature is not 100% safe and cannot be relied upon solely. An average hacker can crack into the system and gain instant access.
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