As of 11/04/2023, the current version of Windows Notepad by default saves the last note contents when you close Notepad. The Notebook “File” tab has no option to “close file.” It only has “Close window.” If you once open an encrypted text file with AxCrypt, it opens by default with Notepad. Thereafter, even if you previously closed Notepad, the next time you open Notepad, by default it displays the previous note contents, even if the file is supposed to be encrypted and you haven’t started AxCrypt !! You can change the Notepad settings so that when you start Notepad, it displays either the previous note contents or a new blank file. Then, when you close Notepad, it asks if you want to save previous session contents, and you can just say “no,” and presumably, it erases the Notepad’s cache containing the file contents.
Conclusion: Users should be warned of this security risk if they open encrypted text files with Notepad.
Prabhukumar R 8 months, 2 weeks ago.