Summary

Selecting the right file system and then configuring the drives on your Windows Vista system with the necessary permission settings is an important part of keeping your personal files safe, secure, and private. Keep the following points in mind when configuring security settings to control access to your personal files and folders:

• NTFS is the most secure file system choice for Windows Vista systems. If your system's drives are formatted with the FAT or FAT32 file systems, consider converting them to NTFS.

• Keep personal files more secure and private by storing them in your personal Documents folder. You should store files you want to share with all other users in the Public folder hierarchy.

• Always follow the principle of least privilege when assigning NTFS permissions - never grant any user or group a greater degree of control over files and folders than they require.

• NTFS permissions are not infallible - although they can help to secure and protect your personal files, Administrators can always take ownership of folders and change their NTFS permissions to grant themselves access. For complete file and folder protection, encryption is always the best option.