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shouldn't Windows warn you before "encrypting", if password is blank?



 
 
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Old November 12th 09, 03:07 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics
Bennett Haselton
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Posts: 3
Default shouldn't Windows warn you before "encrypting", if password is blank?

In Windows XP you can encrypt a file or folder just by right-clicking
on it and selecting the Encryption attribute -- no extra password or
decryption key required -- so I assume the encryption key is derived
from your logon password somehow.

However, doesn't that mean that if you choose to encrypt a file but
your logon password is blank (and many people have set their password
to blank just so they can boot up their computer without entering
one), then by "encrypting" the file you haven't really encrypted it at
all? (Well of course you haven't, since anyone could boot up the
computer and be automatically signed in as you, and access the file
without ever authenticating themselves.)

I'm writing some articles about tips and tricks for Windows, and one
of the things I'm saying is that I consider it a user interface bug
that Windows lets you "encrypt" a file, without giving you a warning
if your password is blank. I'm just wondering if there is some
legitimate reason why Windows doesn't warn you about a blank password
before encrypting, otherwise I would call it a bug.

(I haven't tried under Vista or Windows 7; does anybody know if those
operating systems warn you if you try to set a file's "encryption"
attribute and your password is blank?)

Bennett
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