533
Microsoft secured my files! (lemmy.world)
submitted 3 months ago by yesman@lemmy.world to c/linuxmemes@lemmy.world
215 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Back in January Microsoft encrypted all my hard drives without saying anything. I was playing around with a dual boot yesterday and somehow aggravated Secureboot. So my C: panicked and required a 40 character key to unlock.

Your key is backed up to the Microsoft account associated with your install. Which is considerate to the hackers. (and saved me from a re-install) But if you've got an unactivated copy, local account, or don't know your M$ account credentials, your boned.

Control Panel > System Security > Bitlocker Encryption.

BTW, I was aware that M$ was doing this and even made fun of the effected users. Karma.

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[-] hansolo@lemm.ee 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Holy shit. This happened to me last week.

Turned off Safe Boot when going back over to Win on a dualboot after 6 months. Wanted to avoid updates nuking my dualboot option. (Edit: As was a Win issue 6 months ago)

...enter Bitlocker recovery for Every. Single. Logon.

Just need to do one thing that needs genuine Win11 fingerprint and then I'm doing a 22.1 fresh install.

[-] CubitOom@infosec.pub 2 points 3 months ago

I thought bitlocker had a maximum of 20 digits or the pin and only numbers were allowed.

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[-] milicent_bystandr@lemm.ee 2 points 3 months ago

You know, this is actually one Windows decision I agree with. Encryption should be default, especially on portable devices like laptops. For an OS aimed at people who want to use their computers, rather than understand them, you have to choose an encryption that works by default for most of your non-tech-savvy users.

If they want their data truly in their own hands, or full control, use Linux.

If they want to use Windows, but not rely on a Microsoft account for recovery, get the bitlocker recovery key and write it down (which you can do).

But I think this looks like a sane default.

(Full disclosure, I don't use Windows for anything I care about!)

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[-] cupcakezealot@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 3 months ago

"do not redeem!" - microsoft, probably

[-] skittle07crusher@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 months ago

*You’re

You’re boned

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[-] DicJacobus@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

When I switched to a new CPU I got a bit locker message and it was one of my biggest computer scares ever. I couldn't remember if the shop that assembled my pc would have enabled it or not. And wasn't available to contact.

I had to take a risk. If I continued there was a 50 50 chance my shit would have been bricked. Thankfully. That shop had the foresight to NOT randomly enable features the client didn't ask for

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[-] andybytes@programming.dev 2 points 3 months ago

All in the name of national security *wink

[-] Mustakrakish@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

This has been happening to people randomly for years. Ysed to get calls about it all the time, and that was pre-covid

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this post was submitted on 04 May 2025
533 points (96.3% liked)

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