Win 11/NTFS/ Dir Security = Confused!

Greetings Win brethren,

Can someone please shed some light on something that baffles me?

Win 11 installs from a stock ISO using NTFS. This allows for folder permissions to be set to grant or deny access to other users.

Excellent idea.

Why is it I can take any Linux stock image on USB, boot up, and have full access to ALL user folders? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of OS/HDD permissions? Sure, it's one extra step for some unsavory person -- but the fact is nothing is really safe, right?

I saw there was an option under Windows Security to protect my files with a MS account, but I am not a fan of tying personal data to a third party online.

Thanks!

Landlocked

Linux doesn’t give a hoot about the NTFS permissions. It’s just reading the file system.

This is the situation for which encryption is intended. If someone has physical access to your drive, it’s game over.