Everything (software)
Encyclopedia
Everything is a free proprietary Windows desktop search engine
that can rapidly find files and folders by name on an NTFS
volume. On October 30, 2009, Everything was ranked #857 of the 1,757 applications used by the 70,000 users of Wakoopa
, making it more widely used than the WinZip
archive utility.
. The program searches this index for file names matching a user search expression, either a fragment of the target file name or a regular expression
, displaying intermediate results as the search term is entered.
Because the program does not index content but relies on the NTFS change journal
to filter file updates, which are the only file system activity which causes it to update its index, it uses very little memory and processor time. However, because it relies on the change journal
, the program can only search NTFS volumes, and can not be used to find files on a FAT
file system volume (which includes most USB drives) or when run in Wine
, on a NTFS
volume mounted by Linux.
change journal
, the program must run with administrator privileges, either in a privileged user account or as a Windows service
. Since it does not filter search results by client privileges before displaying them, every user can see every file on a volume, just as if they were using the program in an administrator account. Furthermore, a user can double-click a file name in the results list to open the file or run it, and the program will launch the file with its own administrator credentials rather than limited to the user's own credentials. Although there may be a way to prevent privilege escalation when opening a file, there is no current remedy to prevent one user from listing the private files in another user's account.
Desktop search
Desktop search is the name for the field of search tools which search the contents of a user's own computer files, rather than searching the Internet...
that can rapidly find files and folders by name on an NTFS
NTFS
NTFS is the standard file system of Windows NT, including its later versions Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, and Windows 7....
volume. On October 30, 2009, Everything was ranked #857 of the 1,757 applications used by the 70,000 users of Wakoopa
Wakoopa
Wakoopa is a social networking site that monitors the software applications its members use.- Specifications :Its members learn what software their contacts use, and receive recommendations for better software. The service includes a desktop tracker, which is a small application that runs in the...
, making it more widely used than the WinZip
WinZip
WinZip is a proprietary file archiver and compressor for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X, developed by WinZip Computing...
archive utility.
Program operation
When the program first runs, it creates an index of the names of every file and folder on the volume from file metadata in the NTFS Master File Table. By default, all mounted NTFS volumes are indexed. The index is continually updated by the application from the NTFS change journalUsn Journal
USN Journal is a function of recording the changes on NTFS volumes....
. The program searches this index for file names matching a user search expression, either a fragment of the target file name or a regular expression
Regular expression
In computing, a regular expression provides a concise and flexible means for "matching" strings of text, such as particular characters, words, or patterns of characters. Abbreviations for "regular expression" include "regex" and "regexp"...
, displaying intermediate results as the search term is entered.
Because the program does not index content but relies on the NTFS change journal
Usn Journal
USN Journal is a function of recording the changes on NTFS volumes....
to filter file updates, which are the only file system activity which causes it to update its index, it uses very little memory and processor time. However, because it relies on the change journal
Usn Journal
USN Journal is a function of recording the changes on NTFS volumes....
, the program can only search NTFS volumes, and can not be used to find files on a FAT
File Allocation Table
File Allocation Table is a computer file system architecture now widely used on many computer systems and most memory cards, such as those used with digital cameras. FAT file systems are commonly found on floppy disks, flash memory cards, digital cameras, and many other portable devices because of...
file system volume (which includes most USB drives) or when run in Wine
Wine (software)
Wine is a free software application that aims to allow computer programs written for Microsoft Windows to run on Unix-like operating systems. Wine also provides a software library, known as Winelib, against which developers can compile Windows applications to help port them to Unix-like...
, on a NTFS
NTFS
NTFS is the standard file system of Windows NT, including its later versions Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, and Windows 7....
volume mounted by Linux.
Multiuser security
The program is not safe in a multiuser environment. Because it requires access to the NTFSNTFS
NTFS is the standard file system of Windows NT, including its later versions Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, and Windows 7....
change journal
Usn Journal
USN Journal is a function of recording the changes on NTFS volumes....
, the program must run with administrator privileges, either in a privileged user account or as a Windows service
Windows Service
On Microsoft Windows operating systems, a Windows service is a long-running executable that performs specific functions and which is designed not to require user intervention. Windows services can be configured to start when the operating system is booted and run in the background as long as...
. Since it does not filter search results by client privileges before displaying them, every user can see every file on a volume, just as if they were using the program in an administrator account. Furthermore, a user can double-click a file name in the results list to open the file or run it, and the program will launch the file with its own administrator credentials rather than limited to the user's own credentials. Although there may be a way to prevent privilege escalation when opening a file, there is no current remedy to prevent one user from listing the private files in another user's account.
See also
- Desktop searchDesktop searchDesktop search is the name for the field of search tools which search the contents of a user's own computer files, rather than searching the Internet...
- List of desktop search engines
- Journaling file systemJournaling file systemA journaling file system is a file system that keeps track of the changes that will be made in a journal before committing them to the main file system...
- NTFSNTFSNTFS is the standard file system of Windows NT, including its later versions Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, and Windows 7....
- Master File Table
- USN JournalUsn JournalUSN Journal is a function of recording the changes on NTFS volumes....
(NTFS change journal)
Reviews
- Everything 1.2.1.371 CNET editors' review
- Gizmo's Freeware 2009 Product of the Year: Our Editor's Choice Top 4 finalist
- Top 10 Tiny & Awesome Windows Utilities Lifehacker review
- Find Your Files for Free With Everything Search Engine PCWorld review
- Everything Search Engine Review Refolder review
- ZDNet Readers' Choice: Top 25 free, lightweight apps #23: Everything search engine
- Everything Search Engine Comic Review TheSimplest review