Microsoft shutters Windows private folders

["Richard M. Smith" <rms () computerbytesman com>]

EFS encrypted folders have been around for 5+ years in XP.  Does anyone
understand this controversy with Private Folders which sound like the
samething?
 
Richard
 
By Ina Fried
http://news.com.com/Microsoft+shutters+Windows+private+folders/2100-1012_3-6
094481.html 

Story last modified Fri Jul 14 15:43:48 PDT 2006 


Following an outcry from corporate customers, Microsoft is removing an
add-on feature to Windows that allowed users to create password-protected
folders. 

The feature was introduced
<http://news.com.com/Microsoft+hands+out+private+folders/2100-1012_3-6092153
.html?tag=nl> as a free download last week. Almost immediately, people
raised questions over how businesses would grapple with the ability of
individual workers to encrypt their data. 

"Private Folder 1.0 was designed as a benefit for customers running genuine
Windows," Microsoft said in a statement to CNET News.com on Friday.
"However, we received feedback about concerns around manageability, data
recovery and encryption, and based on that feedback, we are removing the
application today. This change will take effect shortly." 

When it added the feature, Microsoft touted it as "a useful tool...to
protect your private data when friends, colleagues, kids or other people
share your PC or account." 

However, others spotted potential problems. 

"Oh great, have they even thought about the impact this could have on
enterprises. I'm already trying to frantically find information on this
product so that A) I can block to all our desktops and B) figure out how we
then support it when users inevitably lose files. I can see the benefit in
this product for home users, but it's a bit of a sloppy release by
Microsoft," Stuart Graham said in a posting
<http://dw.com.com/redir?destUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.msblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D886%23
comments&siteId=3&oId=/Microsoft+hands+out+private+folders/2100-1012_3-60921
53.html&ontId=1001&lop=nl.ex> on Windows Server-related site MSBlog.


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