BitLocker, Microsoft’s built-in disk encryption feature, has been turned on by default for Windows 11 users with a Microsoft account. While this is meant to protect user data from unauthorized access, it can also lead to unexpected problems. A Reddit user shared their story of how they lost access to their three terabyte backup drives due to BitLocker’s auto-encryption.
The user, who goes by the handle “Toast_Soup,” had six drives in their system and was unaware that BitLocker was enabled for two of them. When they rebooted their PC, Windows asked for a key that Soup didn’t know existed. Without the key, the drives were encrypted forever, and even recovery software couldn’t access the data.
The issue is not just about losing access to your data but also about performance. BitLocker can slow down random read/write speeds by up to 45% due to encryption and decryption processes. Some users have reported that disabling BitLocker resolves the lagging problem.
To avoid this issue, it’s essential to turn off BitLocker for non-essential drives or note down any important keys associated with your Microsoft account. Always keep backups of sensitive data on external drives to ensure you can recover them in case of an emergency.
Microsoft’s decision to default BitLocker encryption has raised concerns about user autonomy and security. While the feature is intended to protect user data, it can also become a barrier to accessing one’s own files. As users, it’s crucial to be aware of this risk and take steps to mitigate it.
Source: https://www.tomshardware.com/software/windows/bitlocker-reportedly-auto-locks-users-backup-drives-causing-loss-of-3tb-of-valuable-data-windows-automatic-disk-encryption-can-permanently-lock-your-drives