The system currently lacks the capability to secure folders with passwords on Windows.
The system currently lacks the capability to secure folders with passwords on Windows.
The concept is using your user account as the password for all systems. This means you don’t need to handle security settings yourself. If you value safety, avoid external drives and encrypt data when possible. The server controls access permissions, keeping everything under one account for all logins. It’s not linked to a Microsoft account but connects to the system login—whether it’s a Microsoft, Azure AD, local AD, or regular account.
Because passwords aren't strong enough, they're fairly simple to crack. Microsoft is shifting away from passwords entirely for this reason. It really depends on how you handle it—Microsoft advises doing things correctly or not at all. Third-party tools exist, but they don’t work smoothly with existing systems. Honestly, I understand your point. There have been times when this feature would have been useful, but I know it could be misused. Relying solely on a password isn’t secure because it doesn’t verify the identity of the user. There are established systems that link access to verified identities in a domain or workgroup, and these should be used instead of basic passwords that can be easily broken. The main issue is that it doesn’t adequately protect against unauthorized access. It might work for some scenarios, but its availability makes it vulnerable to misuse, potentially leading to security breaches in a corporate setting. Therefore, Microsoft should avoid implementing it. Instead, they should focus on stronger methods like encryption and more robust authentication processes.
I understand your perspective completely. It does seem odd that such a secure system isn't more intuitive. Instead of dealing with complex encryption, permission settings, or advanced configurations, a straightforward method would be more practical. With all the features available, it appears Microsoft could create a solution that ensures security through simple password use or two-factor authentication for shared or protected folders. If a basic password is vulnerable to misuse, offering an easy way to protect it would be preferable to leaving regular users without any control over security.