How to share EFS encrypted files in Windows XP

As a secure encryption method, EFS has been widely used. However, before Windows XP, EFS encryption does not support sharing. This means that the encrypted file can only be viewed by the encryption operator or the user who has installed the encryption certificate, this may cause some inconvenience to network sharing.

Microsoft recognized this issue and added the sharing feature in the Windows XP Professional EFS version. To share an EFS-encrypted file, it must be operated by the system administrator or file encryption operator. Otherwise, an error occurs during the operation.

The procedure is as follows:

1. log on to Windows with an account in the Administrator group or an EFS encrypted creator account, and then open the encrypted folder (because EFS is an encrypted file instead of an encrypted folder, other users can also open the folder ), right-click the encrypted file to be shared and select "properties" to open the file Properties dialog box.

2. on the "General" tab, click "advanced", click "details" in the "Advanced properties" dialog box, and then click "add, add another user's EFS certificate, select a certificate in the user certificate list, and click "OK" to complete the adding.

Note: This certificate is created only when EFS is used for the first time. To enable other users to view files encrypted by EFS, you must first create this certificate, that is to say, other users must first use EFS encryption.

3. Click "OK" to exit the all dialog box to share the EFS encrypted files.

Note:

1. the above operation was successfully tested in Windows XP Professional. Windows XP Home Edition does not support EFS, so it cannot be operated.

2. Before execution, you must confirm that the operator has the write or modify permission for the encrypted document (for Office documents). Otherwise, an error occurs during execution.

3. after using EFS, if you need to reinstall the operating system or even repair the installation, you must back up the encryption certificate in advance. Otherwise, after the installation is complete, previously encrypted files cannot be opened.

Knowledge: EFS is the abbreviation of Encrypting Files System, it is a core file encryption technology introduced by Microsoft in the NTFS file system to improve file security features since Windows 2000. EFS is transparent to users who encrypt the file. You do not have to manually decrypt the file before use. You can open and change the file normally.