Microsoft’s BitLocker encryption, long viewed as a safeguard for Windows users’ data, is under renewed scrutiny after reports revealed the company provided law enforcement with encryption keys in a criminal investigation.
The case, detailed in a government filing [PDF], alleges that individuals in Guam illegally claimed pandemic-related unemployment benefits. According to Forbes, this marks the first publicly documented instance of Microsoft handing over BitLocker recovery keys to law enforcement.
BitLocker is a built-in Windows security feature designed to encrypt data stored on devices. It operates through two configurations: Device Encryption, which offers a simplified setup, and BitLocker Drive Encryption, a more advanced option with greater control.
In both configurations, Microsoft generally stores BitLocker recovery keys on its servers when encryption is activated using a Microsoft account. As the company explains in its documentation, “If you use a Microsoft account, the BitLocker recovery key is typically attached to it, and you can access the recovery key online.”
A similar approach applies to organizational devices. Microsoft notes, “If you’re
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