So, this means Microsoft has copies of every single bitlocker key, meaning that a bad actor could obtain them... Thereby making bitlocker less than worthless, it's an active threat.
MS really speedrunning worst possible software timeline
this post was submitted on 23 Jan 2026
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They don't have a copy of every single Bitlocker key. They do have a copy of your Bitlocker key if you are dumb enough to allow it to sync with your Microsoft account, you know, "for convenience."
Don't use a Microsoft account with Windows, even if you are forced to use Windows.
To use Windows without a Microsoft account requires tech literacy these days, I thought. I would not be suprised if users didn't choose to sync with a MS account but it's doing it anyway, if that's what MS want.
If you sign in with a Microsoft account at all I don't believe there's the capability to opt out.
I only use local accounts. I have never had a Microsoft account. I never will.
You can't do that anymore, at least not with a normal Windows installation. All of the tricks of forcing it offline, clicking cancel 10 times and jumping up and down don't work anymore, they've disabled them all, the only way to install Windows 11 now (using the normal Microsoft installer) is by linking it to a Microsoft account.
Using Rufus still works. I did it as recently as a couple of days ago.
Sorry, but the argument above was for a regular user, who doesn't know what Rufus is, who doesn't know the concept of OS, who simply ~~knows~~ thinks the files are saved "on the computer" (while they somehow ended up on OneDrive).
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You can still create a local account by setting the PC up as a "School or Business" PC and then choosing the local account option.
This is not true. There are several tools to create a bootable USB that uses a local account.
They just made it hard for Joe Schmoe to avoid it.
using the normal installer
Joe Schmoe buys new laptop with Windows preinstalled.
Joe Schmoe boots it for the first time.
Greeted by first-log-on.
Goes through steps and is immediately captured.
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I'm not even sure if you can install without an MS account if you don't use Rufus anymore. Rufus requires literacy for sure, and even if you can still do it without it is designed to make it impossible to know you can from within the installer itself.
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It's a bit harsh and unfair to say "you are dumb enough to allow it". Microsoft makes it damn near impossible to avoid this unless you are extremely particular and savvy about it, and never have an off day where you make a mistake while using your PC.
Encryption doesn't actually complete until you log in with a Microsoft account for Home Edition.
Anyways: Use Veracrypt.
Or just Linux + LUKS
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No they do not have copies of every Bitlocker key.
Bitlocker by default creates a 48-bit recovery code that can be used to unlock an encrypted drive. If you run Windows with a personal Microsoft account it offers to backup that code into your Microsoft account in case your system needs recovered. The FBI submitted a supoena to request the code for a person's encrypted drive. Microsoft provided it, as required by law.
Bitlocker does not require that key be created, and you don't have to save it to Microsoft's cloud.
This is just a case of people not knowing how things work and getting surprised when the data they save in someone else's computer is accessed using the legal processes.
Except that Microsoft basically puts a gun to every users head to login with a Microsoft account which can/does backup the recovery keys.
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If you sign into a Microsoft account during setup, Microsoft automatically turns on bitlocker and sends the key off to Microsoft for safe keeping. You are right, there are other ways to handle bitlocker, but that's way beyond most people, and I don't think Microsoft even tells you this during setup. It's honestly a lifesaver for when bitlocker breaks(and it does), but it comes at a cost. In the business world, this is seen as a huge benefit, as we aren't trying to protect from the US government, mostly petty theft and maybe some corporate espionage.
As is often the case, the real solution is Linux, but that, too, is far beyond most people until manufacturers start shipping Linux machines to big box stores and even then they'd probably not enable any encryption.
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Hey copilot, give me the bitlocker key to the nuclear football!
Microsoft is already a bad actor and they have them. Or a bad actor could threaten microsoft physically and microsoft will hand them over. Wait, that already happened.
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The word "Gave" is really doing some heavy lifting in that title. Microsoft produced the keys in response to a warrant as required by law.
If you don't want a company, any company, to produce your data when given a warrant then you can't give the company that data. At all. Ever.
Not fast food joints, not Uber, not YouTube, not even the grocery store.
Yes. But this completely invalidates the encryption. If anyone can decrypt your data without you giving the keys to them, it is not really encrypted.
The encryption key is data, don't give it to ANYONE. "Two people can keep a secret if one of them is dead."
Which means it's useless if always uploaded to MS
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If you can't possess the keys, you can't give them when there's a warrant. Microsoft designed a system that could obtain and decrypt those keys on purpose.
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Linux. LUKS it yourself or it isn't really encrypted.
What does Microsoft think the fucking point of encryption is? Do they think I am encrypting my data to protect it from my dog?
As someone who used windows for way too long: they just simply don't give a shit. Like at all
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What a slap to the faces of everyone who had been locked out of their data because they never knew about this crap and thus never saved their keys
Except their keys were saved but microsoft deemed that they cant "prove ownership" of the microsoft account, because they lack the credentials...
A single bitter, crowing "hah!" at whoever thought there wasn't at least this much overlap between our corporate and government masters. Welcome to hell kid, shoutout to whatever's being trained on the last ~30 years of everything that touched the internet in the NSA's Utah data center. Rose coloured PRISM though, I dream of the day when someone makes those search tools public and I can reminisce through my preteen MSN Messenger convos
Daily reminder that verified boot is objectively superior to "secure boot", once again a common Linux W and another example of Google actually promoting some good security practices
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Wasn't this by design? Otherwise why keeping the decryption keys on servers located in the united states'?
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BitLocker? More like ShitLocker.
BitLocker provides for a recovery key. This is to allow someone to regain access to an encrypted device in the event that they lose their PIN, any one of these scenarios happen, OR when suspects do not want to cooperate with LEOs.
Find your BitLocker recovery key
If the target device is part of an enterprise and managed with EntraId/Intune this is the option. Escrowed keys.
Why is anyone surprised by this? And what kind of imbecile commits crimes and uses windows? 🤣
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Remember when Truecrypt got suspiciously terminated? That was the goal
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Is anyone shocked by this? With everything that DHS, FBI, ICE, military, elected representatives, etc. are all doing without any concern or care for laws, civil rights, human rights, the Constitution, this should not be a shock to anyone. Corporations are bending over backwards to appease the talking orange and make more money. They do not care as long as profits are up and the shareholders are happy. A companies primary legal responsibility is to the shareholders, not the customers.
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Microslop is openly anti consumer. Why would you hand them your encryption keys?
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Federal investigators in Guam believed the devices held evidence that would help prove individuals handling the island’s Covid unemployment assistance program were part of a plot to steal funds.
Damn, they weren't even doing this to go after pedos.
I'm curious where in the economic ladder this person fell. Rich enough to get a significant amount of money from the system, but still too poor to make the government look the other way.
Amazing how every time you think they've finally stopped digging.. they whip out the steam shovel and go "Hey y'all, watch this!"
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