Microsoft opens BitLocker for US Feds

[nestorbalce (Nestor)]

Well here’s another reason to shift to Linux - a recent case in Guam reveals that MS provided encryption keys to the US Feds against a PC’s owner.

A bigger reason why people should really give up Windows: US Feds can open up your hard drive regardless if you encrypt it - imagine someone stealing your intellectual property!

Here are the details: Surrender as a service: Microsoft unlocks BitLocker for feds • The Register

Here is the Case:

gov.uscourts.gud.18672.114.0.pdf

[FranklyFlawless (Frank Lý)]

@nestorbalce

US Feds can open up your hard drive regardless if you encrypt it

That statement is not accurate against the information presented in the article:

Microsoft provides the option to store keys elsewhere. Instead of selecting “Save to your Microsoft Account,” customers can “Save to a USB flash drive,” “Save to a file,” or “Print the recovery key.”

But customers are encouraged to entrust keys to Microsoft because as long as they have access to the account online, they can recover the keys, effectively making Redmond their digital doorman. However, in such circumstances, customers no longer have total control over access to their data.

Microsoft was able to provide the BitLocker encryption keys to the FBI because the Windows laptop users entrusted Microsoft with such secrets. If the Windows laptop users chose to store the keys elsewhere outside of Microsoft’s possession as referenced by the Microsoft support article, then neither Microsoft nor the FBI would have been able to decrypt the BitLocker-encrypted drives.

[nestorbalce (Nestor)]

Awesome, thank you for clarifying and calling out my error!
I appreciate it