Encrypting Administrator's profile

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kirsten
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Kirsten

Is there any way to encrypt (EFS or similar) the entire administrator's
profile folder (C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator) so as to prevent a
user from login in to the computer if he changes the password with a dos
utility? (CIA Commander for example).

There's no point in having domain policies if the user can login as the
administrator and do whetever he wants with the computer!

What else do you suggest? (please don't say "put a bios password" or "forbid
physical access to the computer")

Thanks a lot!
 
Kirsten said:
Is there any way to encrypt (EFS or similar) the entire
administrator's profile folder (C:\Documents and
Settings\Administrator) so as to prevent a user from login in to
the computer if he changes the password with a dos utility? (CIA
Commander for example).
There's no point in having domain policies if the user can login as
the administrator and do whetever he wants with the computer!

What else do you suggest? (please don't say "put a bios password"
or "forbid physical access to the computer")
Click to expand...

Why is this user able to logon as an administrative level account in the
first place?
 
He's not, but there are several utilities that easily disable the
administrator account.
 
Kirsten said:
He's not, but there are several utilities that easily disable the
administrator account.
Click to expand...

Sounds like some discipline is in order. If this is a workplace, make it
a sackable offence to install or use any software not authorised by the
company. If a home environment, just deny physically, access to the
machine until the user learns to respect computer security.
 
Kirsten said:
Is there any way to encrypt (EFS or similar) the entire
administrator's profile folder (C:\Documents and
Settings\Administrator) so as to prevent a user from login in to
the computer if he changes the password with a dos utility? (CIA
Commander for example).
There's no point in having domain policies if the user can login as
the administrator and do whetever he wants with the computer!

What else do you suggest? (please don't say "put a bios password"
or "forbid physical access to the computer")
Click to expand...

Shenan said:
Why is this user able to logon as an administrative level account
in the first place?
Click to expand...
He's not, but there are several utilities that easily disable the
administrator account.
Click to expand...

Did you mean 'disable' or 'allow them to use' the administrator account?

You didn't want to hear it because you know it's true... "Physical access,
time and a little knowledge means anyone who sits at the machine basically
can own it..."

Are you protecting what's in the administrator account (should be much of
nothing) or is it you just don't want them using the account?

If the latter - your battle is lost before it was started. Encrypt all you
want - physical access can give the user another/the same administrative
account with a little effort and a few tools and time. Maybe not so much
the data in the profile - but there should be nothing in (files, etc) the
actual built-in administrator's account of importance anyway, IMO.

I think you need to divulge what it is you hope to accomplish in order to
better narrow the possible answers. What is the actual problem and need?
 
You can use a full disk encryption product to encrypt the entire hard drive.
FDE will prevent offline access to the hard drive, meaning you would not be
able to boot the computer into another OS and access the drive. Windows
Vista with BitLocker should do the trick. Vista SP1 made some improvements
to BitLocker.
 
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