The second reason is that you don’t want malware, which executes on another user’s rights, to compromise the integrity of your files. One of the ways to do it is by using EFS (Encrypted File System). The Encrypted File System is a part of Windows 11, and it helps you encrypt your files and folders, protecting them from unauthorized access. This article is about enabling and using the Encrypted File System in Windows 11.
How can I enable the Encrypted File System in Windows 11?
In order to enable the Encrypted File System on Windows 11, I use the folder ‘Financial data’ with two reports. You can apply the same scenario to any other folder. Under Encryption, you can choose between TripleDES-SHA1 or AES256-SHA256. I use the default option, TripleDES-SHA1. Once finished, click “Next. When another user tries to access your files, they will be blocked. First, when the user navigates to the file, he or she will notice a lock on the file. This means that the files are encrypted using EFS.
No, when a user tries to open the file, they will get an error as shown below.
Wrap up
If you are sharing your computer with multiple users, you should consider protecting your files from unauthorized access by other users or malware. Windows 11 supports a security feature called EFS (Encrypted File System). This article provides you with step-by-step instructions on how to do so.
Can you disable EFS (Encrypted File System) once it is enabled?
Yes, you can still disable EFS once it is enabled. We have a dedicated article on how to disable EFS in Windows 11.
