WINDOWS NOW USES ENCRYPTION FEATURE (AKA BITLOCKER)
Many Windows computers now come with a ‘Device Encryption’ feature called BitLocker already turned on — even if you never enabled it yourself.
WHAT IS IT?
BitLocker is a security feature built into Windows that encrypts your entire hard drive. This protects your data if your computer is lost or stolen. But encryption only works for you if you have a recovery key — a long code required to unlock the drive if Windows can’t start normally. This is in both Windows Pro and Windows Home & may be called ‘BitLocker’ or ‘Device Encryption’.
WHY IT MATTERS.
On many new laptops, it is automatically enabled the first time the computer is turned on, even if you were never asked & never got to save a recovery key.
In some cases, the only copy of the recovery key may be stored inside the computer’s TPM chip — not somewhere you can access.
The DANGER.
If something goes wrong — a Windows update, hardware repair, or even a glitch — the computer may ask for the Recovery Key. If you do not have the key and need it – you are out of luck and your only hope is to have a backup (another BIG reason ODI highly encourages backups!). That means:
- You cannot get into Windows
- You cannot access your files
- Your documents, photos, and data may be permanently lost
- The only option may be to wipe the computer and start over (hopefully with backed up data)
WHAT TO DO NOW:
- Check if your computer has BitLocker or Device Encryption turned on.
- Locate your recovery key.
- Save it in a safe place.
- Be sure you have a backup of data.
UNSURE HOW TO CHECK?
Contact ODI. We can help.
