Compression
Encryption is available in the NTFS file system but not in FAT32 primarily due to the advanced features and capabilities of NTFS. NTFS was designed with security and permissions in mind, allowing for individual file encryption through the Encrypting File System (EFS). In contrast, FAT32 is a simpler file system that lacks the structure needed to support such security features, focusing instead on broader compatibility and ease of use across different operating systems. As a result, FAT32 does not include built-in encryption capabilities.
A folder must be on NTFS to be encrypted using EFS.
NTFS
Yes, NTFS (New Technology File System) provides file-level security through Access Control Lists (ACLs), which allow administrators to set permissions for users and groups on individual files and folders. Additionally, NTFS supports encryption via the Encrypting File System (EFS), enabling users to encrypt files and folders to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access. This combination of security features makes NTFS a robust file system for managing access and securing data.
Encrypting File System (EFS)
Log files The encrypting file system EFS Disk quotas
The Windows feature that enables file and folder encryption is called BitLocker. BitLocker provides full disk encryption for the entire operating system drive, while the Encrypting File System (EFS) allows users to encrypt individual files and folders. Both features help protect sensitive data by ensuring that only authorized users can access the encrypted content. BitLocker is available in Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions, while EFS is available in various editions, including Pro and Enterprise.
Microsoft EFS stands for Encryption File System. This is used when you want to encrypt and protect your data and personal information from others by using a password.
EFS stands for Encrypted File System and is used to encrypt folders and files in Windows XP or Vista.This encryption works ONLY when using the Windows NTFS file system!
Encrypting File System (EFS)
When using the Windows Encrypted File System (EFS), files are encrypted at the user level, meaning that only the user who encrypted the file can access it unless permissions are explicitly granted to others. EFS uses symmetric encryption with a randomly generated file encryption key, which is then protected by the user's password. Additionally, EFS seamlessly integrates with the Windows operating system, allowing users to encrypt files through the file properties dialog without needing additional software. However, it's important to back up encryption keys, as losing them can result in permanent data loss.
New Technology File System (NTFS) and High Performance File System (HPFS),NTFS supersedes the FAT file system as the preferred file system for Microsoft's Windows operating systems. NTFS has several improvements over FAT and HPFS (High Performance File System) such as improved support for metadata and the use of advanced data structures to improve performance, reliability, and disk space utilization, plus additional extensions such as security access control lists (ACL) and file system journaling. NTFS v3.0 includes several new features over its predecessors: sparse file support, disk usage quotas, reparse points, distributed link tracking, and file-level encryption, also known as the Encrypting File System (EFS).