Hi Richard,
Richard Coltrane wrote:
> Ive aways thought NTFS protected my files from peering eyes but ive recenty
> discovered that by simply installing Linux (Fedora 6) i can access any NTFS
> volume regardless of the permission i set on it in XP/2003??
>
> So if i have my laptop stolen my files are NOT secure. The thief just needs
> to rip the hardrive out and connect to it via Linux and they have access to
> all my supposedly secure information.
>
> What a crock.
I'm afraid there is NO news here !
NTFS permissions and related matters were to control access of files for
different users WITHIN the OS - NOT security from external access with
third party mounting and reading.
Short of encrypting the files at file system level (which I believe
Win2k+ can do) any OS will have this vulnerability. I can even read a
NTFS partition from a DOS machine with the appropriate software.
For NT4 systems (which doesn't have a file encryption capability
inbuilt) I suggest you look at CryptExt by Nick Payne (now a bit hard to
find - V3.4 was the last) to secure any sensitive files you have on your
laptop. At least then, in the event the laptop is stolen prying eyes
CAN'T look at the encrypted data.
Calvin.
>> Stay informed about: NTFS Totally Insecure