Access to EFS encrypted files
Microsoft Encrypting File System (EFS) is an integral part of Microsoft Windows operating systems that enables users to protect their files from unauthorized access, including those who gain physical access to the hard drive or computer on which encrypted files are stored.
Advanced EFS Data Recovery decrypts the protected files and runs on all versions of Windows 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, Windows 7, 8, 8.1, Windows 10, Windows Server 2008, 2012, 2016. Recovery is possible even if the systems are corrupted or unbootable; or if some keys have been tampered with.
Advanced EFS Data Recovery recovers EFS encrypted data that is inaccessible due to system administration errors such as removing users or user profiles, data recovery errors, transferring users between workgroups, or moving hard drives to another PC.
Possible uses
Advanced EFS Data Recovery is a powerful data recovery tool that enables recovery of encrypted files under various circumstances.
- Inserting an EFS-protected hard drive into another PC
- Deleted users or user profiles
- Transferring a user to another workgroup without taking EFS into account
- Account password reset by system administrator without EFS consideration
- Damaged hard drive, corrupted file system, unreachable operating system
- Newly installed Windows or computer upgrades
- Formatted system partitions with encrypted files on another disk
Recovering encrypted files
Advanced EFS Data Recovery quickly and efficiently decrypts files protected with EFS. By scanning the disk (sector by sector), Advanced EFS Data Recovery looks for encrypted files as well as available keys and decrypts the protected files. Direct access to the file system allows Advanced EFS Data Recovery to recover encrypted files even in the most difficult cases, even when the disk is only available without a valid user account for system login; or when some keys have been tampered with.
Why encrypted files become inaccessible
The EFS appears completely transparent to the user, allowing encryption and decryption of data using strong cryptographic algorithms. This ease of use and transparency for the end user gives the impression that users are infallible, because they often forget that files are encrypted, even when they reinstall Windows or insert a disk into a new computer.
Instant access
Advanced EFS Data Recovery allows you to access EFS-protected files instantly in many cases. The product is aware of the Windows 2000 EFS encryption weakness, which allows for the fastest recovery of the encrypted files. Entering a valid user account password (or a previously used password if the password was reset by a system administrator, making EFS-protected files inaccessible) or an account that serves as a data recovery agent (administrator account by default) can often enable on-the-fly decryption of the protected files.
The Professional Edition also locates "master" and "private" keys in the deleted files, scans the disk sector by sector and uses patterns to locate the keys, allowing recovery from reformatted disks and overwritten Windows installations.
