WGU Foundations-of-Computer-Science - WGU Foundations of Computer Science

In Windows file security (NTFS permissions), “List folder contents” controls whether a user cansee the names of files and subfoldersinside a folder. If a user does not have permission to list a folder, Windows prevents directory enumeration: the user cannot browse the folder and view what is inside. (2BrightSparks) This is a key concept in access control: it separates “being able to traverse to a location” from “being able to see what is stored there.”

When “List folder contents” is not enabled, the user typically cannot view the list of files regardless of whether individual files might have separate permissions. In standard user-facing behavior, what remains visible in the folder’s properties and metadata is limited; among the choices given, the only item that is reliably a folder-level metadata attribute (and not a listing of contents) is the folder’screation date. The “author” is not a universal, reliably displayed NTFS folder property, and options C and D talk about files (contents), which cannot be listed without the list permission. (2BrightSparks)

This reflects a broader textbook principle: operating systems enforce access control both on objects (files/folders) and on operations (read data, write data, list directory). Removing the list operation blocks visibility of contents, even if other permissions exist elsewhere.