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You can have three file systems for disk partitions on a computer running Windows XP: NTFS, FAT, and FAT32. Only NTFS is supported in the NICE environment. It is easy to convert partitions to NTFS. Use the convert command to convert the file system (you need administrative rights on the computer to do this). This kind of conversion keeps your files intact (unlike formatting a partition). To use the C: drive, click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then press ENTER. In the command window, type convert C: /FS:NTFS /vand then press ENTER. Important
NTFS is the recommended file system for the following reasons:
There is one situation in which you might want to choose FAT or FAT32 as your file system. If it is necessary to have a computer that will sometimes run an earlier version of Windows and other times run Windows XP, you will need to have a FAT or FAT32 partition as the primary (or startup) partition on the hard disk. Most earlier versions of Windows cannot access a partition if it uses the latest version of NTFS. For anything other than a situation with multiple operating systems, however, the recommended file system is NTFS. The following table describes the compatibility of each file system with various operating systems.
The following table compares disk and file sizes possible with each file system.
Looking to improve your security by encrypting your files or even your hard drives in Windows? We will walk you through every step so you can keep all of your sensitive data safe. If you encrypt files and folders in Windows, your data will become unreadable to unauthorized parties. Only someone with the correct password, or decryption key, can make the data readable again. This article will explain several methods you can use to encrypt your data. Encryption options To encrypt files and folders in Windows, you can use the two encryption capabilities built in to Windows (and a third option, depending on the software you’re using):
Tip: Alternatively, if all you are concerned about is avoiding somebody snooping at home, you can encrypt or password-protect individual MS Word or MS Excel files quickly from within documents. ComputerHope shows you how. See also: How to encrypt email Encryption trendsResearch by Risk Based Security found that 7.9 billion data records were breached between January and September 2019. However, earlier research from Gemalto has shown that less than 5 percent of breaches involved encrypted data. The “2020 Thales Data Threat Report” highlights the following information on data encryption trends:
Before you start to encrypt files and folders in WindowsKeep the following information in mind before you encrypt your data in Windows: Encrypted files are not completely resistant to hacksEncrypted files are not 100 percent secure. Hackers can (albeit with difficulty) bypass encryption. You’re at risk if you store cryptographic keys and passwords in an unencrypted file or if a hacker has planted a keylogger on your system. Keyloggers can be installed by malware on your computer. If you encrypt a single file with EFS, your computer will store an unencrypted version of that file in its temporary memory, so a hacker may still be able to access it. If your data is really valuable, consider a paid, expert, cloud encryption solution. Create backupsAlways make unencrypted backups of your files in case you lose your passwords. Store them in a safe physical location. This will ensure you can easily retrieve them should your entire system become compromised. Understand your encryption needsDecide exactly what you want/need to encrypt. This will determine what encryption method you use. Read To encrypt or not to encrypt files and folders in Windows? Be aware of EFS limitationsAn EFS encrypted file loses its encryption if you move it to a Fat 32 or exFAT drive, or transmit it via a network or email. EFS also does not protect files from being deleted unless you have used Windows permissions to protect it. You cannot encrypt a compressed file or folder with EFS; you need to extract the contents first. Related: Encryption Resources: A big list of tools and guides How does Windows encrypt files and folders?BitLockerBitLocker encrypts an entire volume on your hard drive (or a removable device), no matter who is logged in. To unlock a drive that is protected with BitLocker, anyone wanting access must enter a password or use a USB drive that unlocks the PC when it is inserted. BitLocker uses trusted platform module (TPM) hardware. A TPM chip enables your device to support advanced security features. For instance, when encryption is only at the software level, access may be vulnerable to dictionary attacks. Because TPM is at the hardware level, it can protect against guessing or automated dictionary attacks. (You can use BitLocker without a TPM chip by using software-based encryption, but it requires some extra steps for additional authentication.) To check if your device has a TPM chip:
BitLocker is available on:
Note: BitLocker is not available for Windows Home editions. Encrypting File System (EFS)EFS is the Windows built-in encryption tool used to encrypt files and folders on NTFS drives. Any individual or app that does not have the key cannot open encrypted files and folders. Rather than encrypting your entire drive, EFS allows you manually to encrypt individual files and directories. It works by making encrypted files available only if the user who encrypted the files is logged in. Windows creates the encryption key, which is itself encrypted and saved locally. The encryption process is easy but not very secure (it is possible, although difficult, for an attacker to hack the key.) It is also advisable to use a strong login password that other users of your PC cannot guess.
Some experts advise to just use BitLocker as it is more secure. However, it does depend on your personal circumstances. For home users, EFS may well be sufficient protection from nosy family members. Let’s take a look at how to encrypt files and folders in Windows 10, 8, or 7 step-by-step. Windows Home editions do not ship with EFS or BitLocker. You will have to upgrade or use a third-party app to encrypt your data. For other editors of Windows, the basic process is the same; it is just the look-and-feel of the interface that is a bit different. Note: To encrypt your files and folders, you need to be comfortable navigating your OS, e.g. know how to access the Control Panel. How to encrypt files and folders in Windows 10, 8, or 7EFSTo encrypt a file or folder:
To decrypt a file or folder:
BitLockerYou can choose to unlock your drive during startup by inserting a USB flash drive or entering a password. The process to encrypt an entire hard drive is time-consuming. Depending on the amount of data you have stored, it can take a long time, so make sure your computer is connected to an uninterrupted power supply for the duration. You will need to reboot for changes to take effect but you can work while the drive is being encrypted. To set up BitLocker:
To disable or suspend BitLocker:
Third-party software to encrypt files and folders in WindowsSee the section on 5 free encryption apps for Windows you can use with Home editions below. Troubleshooting: Encrypt contents to secure data option is grayed out [Solved]The most common problem with some Windows editions is that sometimes when attempting EFS encryption, the Encrypt contents to secure data option is grayed out. If you are running a Windows OS Home edition, your only options are to upgrade to a Pro or Enterprise edition or use third-party software to encrypt your files. Here are some suggestions you can try to solve the problem in other versions:
Note: Ensure you back up your files and registry before attempting these fixes. 5 free encryption apps for Windows you can use with Home editionsAxCryptChanges the file extension to a .AXX suffix, and the file can only be opened with AxCrypt if you provide the password used to encrypt it. The software is very intuitive to use and is invoked from its own sub-menu in Windows Explorer. Main features:
7-zipFree file archiver with a high compression ratio and strong AES-256 encryption in 7z and ZIP formats. Note: In Windows 7 and Windows Vista you must run 7-Zip File Manager in administrator mode. To do this, right-click the 7-Zip File Manager icon and then click Run as administrator. Main features:
VeracryptCannot encrypt single files but it can protect partitions or entire drives. Veracrypt is a fork of its popular predecessor, TrueCrypt which is no longer maintained but still widely used. Main features:
GNU Privacy GuardGnuPG is a complete and free implementation of the OpenPGP standard that allows you to encrypt and sign your data. Main features:
FolderLockerIf you do not want to use third-party software, an interesting alternative from Laptop Mag is to create a FolderLocker to password-protect Windows 10 folders. It is rather a drawn-out process initially but once you have set up a FolderLocker, you can easily drag and drop files into it. The writer warns, “…yes, the FolderLocker file can be reverse engineered by someone who understands the process, but this isn’t meant to keep tech-savvy folks out, just nosy family members who you don’t trust.” Also see: The best free apps to encrypt your files before uploading to the cloud. To encrypt or not to encrypt files and folders in Windows?If you have files and/or folders on your computer that contain sensitive information, it is a good idea to use encryption to keep this information from prying eyes. Encryption will also make it difficult, if not impossible, for hackers to access this data if it falls into the wrong hands. No encryption is 100 percent un-crackable, but trying to do so is often just not worth the effort or within the means of criminals. However, if you use your computer for work or other people have their own accounts on your machine, your data is vulnerable. Good security and encryption practices can help safeguard it. Encrypt files and folders in Windows that include the following data:
If you do not want certain information to appear on the internet or would shred it if it were a hard copy, chances are those files or folders should be encrypted. Be warned: The FBI and NSA can require U.S. companies to hand over data or encryption keys with a court order. If you have encrypted files that may contain illegal data or provide information to help law enforcement agencies to investigate a crime, the law can force you to decrypt them yourself. Reported by ITGS news, “[In 2016] a court ordered Paytsar Bkhchadzhyan from Los Angeles to unlock her iPhone device using her fingerprint. As iPhone storage is encrypted and the device was locked with Apple’s Touch ID, this was the only way for police to access the data […] Bkhchadzhyan’s defence claimed a 5th Amendment protection, but this was overruled by the court.“ See also: 75+ free tools to protect your privacy online What happens if an encrypted file in an NTFS partition on a Windows 10 system is moved to a FAT32?If you copy an encrypted file from an NTFS volume to a file allocation table (FAT) or FAT32 volume, the file becomes unencrypted.
What happens when a NTFS folder is moved to a different partition or volume?When you move a folder or file to a different NTFS partition, the folder or file inherits the permissions of the destination folder. When you move a folder or file between partitions, Windows Server 2003 copies the folder or file to the new location and then deletes it from the old location.
When you copy a file from one NTFS file system partition to a different NTFS partition what happens to the file permissions of the copied file?When copying folder or files from one folder to another folder or from one partition to another partition, permissions for this files or folders may change. When copying a folder or file within same NTFS partition, the copy of the folder or file inherits the destination folder permissions.
What type of encryption is used by the Encrypting file system feature in Windows?To encrypt and decrypt files (or directories), EFS uses public key encryption technology. When a user requests to encrypt a file or folder, EFS generates an X. 509 certificate. This certificate has a private/public key pair that the RSA algorithm generates, with EFS as a key usage.
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