xp file encryption-- hypothetical question--

[whistleclient]

xp file encryption-- hypothetical question--

hypothetically speaking, if someone were to get through my hardware firewall, would the file encryption built into xp protect them from accessing sensitive data?

 

[Nothinman]

Depends.

If they got in and know your password (say from sniffing your pop3 access to your ISP's mailbox and you happen to use the same password everywhere) then yes.

 

[bsobel]

If they got in and know your password (say from sniffing your pop3 access to your ISP's mailbox and you happen to use the same password everywhere) then yes.

I'm pretty sure you meant 'then no'.
Bill

 

[Nothinman]

Perhaps I misunderstand (very possible since my EFS experience is quite limited) but I thought if you could authenticate it would decrypt the files for you, even via SMB access.

 

[Haden]

If he got your admin password encryption won't help you,
however just use unique/somewhat long/complex password and you're pretty safe imho.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Nothinman
Perhaps I misunderstand (very possible since my EFS experience is quite limited) but I thought if you could authenticate it would decrypt the files for you, even via SMB access.

Reread the initial question. Sounds like you are having much the same problem I had with one of your posts today 😛

hypothetically speaking, if someone were to get through my hardware firewall, would the file encryption built into xp protect them from accessing sensitive data?

To paraphrase what you said: If they got your password, then no, the encryption will not protect you.

Atleast, I think thats what is meant by all of it. 😛

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: Nothinman
Perhaps I misunderstand (very possible since my EFS experience is quite limited) but I thought if you could authenticate it would decrypt the files for you, even via SMB access.

We are saying the same thing, I think the confusion is around the wording of the question. The word 'protect them' don't make sense. That can read 'protect me' (in which case 'yes' is the right answer) or 'prevent them' (in which case no is the right answer). I guess when I read the question I defaulted to the second case, and you the first.

Bill