Encrypt your PC's disk without giving the keys to Microsoft
a month ago
- #Encryption
- #BitLocker
- #Privacy
- FBI served Microsoft with a warrant for BitLocker encryption recovery keys related to a fraud investigation in Guam's COVID-19 unemployment assistance program.
- BitLocker is a full-disk encryption technology in Windows, now automatically encrypting local disks for Windows 11 Home and Pro users signed in with a Microsoft account.
- Recovery keys are uploaded to Microsoft's servers, enabling data recovery but also allowing Microsoft to unlock disks if required.
- Microsoft handles around 20 similar BitLocker recovery key requests from government authorities annually, though many requests fail due to users not storing keys on Microsoft servers.
- Tech companies like Microsoft and Apple generally resist universal encryption backdoors for law enforcement, with some using additional encryption layers to protect keys.
- Storing recovery keys in the cloud poses privacy and security risks, especially amid increased government scrutiny of journalists and political opponents.