EFS not available on XP Home

  • Thread starter Thread starter Walden Yapp
  • Start date Start date
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Walden Yapp

I am really starting to dispair of Microsoft's grasp on security issues. Why
is the Encrypting File System not available on XP Home systems. Is the logic
that no home computer would ever need to store sensitive information or is
it the case that if you have sensitive information you should buy
professional even though you use it at home. Surely the Pro and Home
suffixes are misleading in the case. I would suggest Grown User and Child
User or Human and Micky Mouse, or perhaps Not Very Secure and Unsecure.
 
NTFS permissions are more than adequate for most home users.
If features available in Pro are desired then the increased investment
is necessary.

EFS is a feature more likely to be needed in a business environment
thus it is included in the Pro version.

Some of your other comments come off more an insult to home users.

You should not expect Professional features at Home prices.
 
Jupiter said:
NTFS permissions are more than adequate for most home users.
If features available in Pro are desired then the increased investment
is necessary.

EFS is a feature more likely to be needed in a business environment
thus it is included in the Pro version.

Some of your other comments come off more an insult to home users.

You should not expect Professional features at Home prices.
Click to expand...

NTFS permissions are not very secure. My point is that the terms Home and
Professional are misleading as encryption might be as necessary at home as
at work. Terms Full and Lite are more correct.
 
"NTFS permissions are not very secure."
That is your opinion.
NTFS are secure enough for use as intended.
You would not be able to bypass them on my computer for example.
Most home users have no need for EFS.

If Microsoft had chosen your words, undoubtedly others would have come
along and picked at your words as being incorrect.
They would be just as correct in criticizing your labels as you are
now in criticizing Microsoft's choice.
If all you really have to complain about is the name there is no point
since everyone may have their own opinion and just as much validity.
The Fact is Microsoft as the manufacturer gets to choose the name, not
you or me.

The fact is Windows XP Home is cheaper largely because of the features
not included.
Anyone is pretty naive if they think they should not be different.
You should not expect Professional features at Home prices.
 
Walden Yapp said:
NTFS permissions are not very secure.
Click to expand...

As long as you implement a proper password policy, I would have thought NTFS
permissions are VERY secure.....
 
You have good points, but you are also speaking marketing spin
now. As I recall, they came to a list of features, and asked which
are more "enterprise" and more "hazardous" outside of a domain
where there is on-stall guidance, and of those what ones could
add up to enough to justify the 1/3 price reduction.
Remember that when XP was being packaged one consideration
was moving the large consumer base from an OS with no true
security (Win9x/Me) to the NT family, so one consideration was
just how much security complexity to include.

That the consumer version was called Home is probably from
the same mentality that has left "My" everything everywhere on
the work machine I use even though there is nothing mine about
it and even though I find emphasis on ego possessiveness offensive.
 
Gordon said:
As long as you implement a proper password policy, I would have thought NTFS
permissions are VERY secure.....
Click to expand...

They are, provided you also exercise physical security over
the machine. Give me time with unrestricted access to your
hardware however, and NTFS permissions become meaningless
(although EFS encryption remains more meaningful, less easily
breached).
 
As I recall, they came to a list of features, and asked which
are more "enterprise" and more "hazardous" outside of a domain
Click to expand...

For example, how many "home" users post that they encrypted their files, did a clean reinstall of XP and now can't access their encrypted files?

--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows Media Center\Windows Powered Smart Display
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
Per user Group Policy Restrictions for XP Home and XP Pro
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_securityconsole.htm
--------------------------------
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

Roger Abell said:
You have good points, but you are also speaking marketing spin
now. As I recall, they came to a list of features, and asked which
are more "enterprise" and more "hazardous" outside of a domain
where there is on-stall guidance, and of those what ones could
add up to enough to justify the 1/3 price reduction.
Remember that when XP was being packaged one consideration
was moving the large consumer base from an OS with no true
security (Win9x/Me) to the NT family, so one consideration was
just how much security complexity to include.

That the consumer version was called Home is probably from
the same mentality that has left "My" everything everywhere on
the work machine I use even though there is nothing mine about
it and even though I find emphasis on ego possessiveness offensive.
Click to expand...
 
Far to many.
A sad quote from such a user:
"I have to be able to unencrypt it.. My life is on that drive, my
book...everything.. There has to be some way!"

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/


For example, how many "home" users post that they encrypted their
files, did a clean reinstall of XP and now can't access their
encrypted files?
 
I bought XP Home when it first came out at that time I didn't need EFS now I
do.
It would be nice seeing that NTFS has the ability built in to encrypt
folders & files, to be able to make useof it.
The way it is now it would be like buying a brand new house in order to lock
a door to a room inside the house you already own.
 
Tony;
Home users typically do not need the added security of encryption.
NTFS Permissions is enough for most home users and even many small
businesses.

You can still lock the door in the brand new house, but the option for
a vault is not there.
 
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