device encryption

Windows 11’s security posture is stronger than most casual users realize — but “strong” is not the same as “optimal.” The defaults Microsoft ships increasingly favor convenience, cloud recovery, and compatibility over the tightest possible security posture, and that trade-off can leave gaps for...

Microsoft's quiet expansion of automatic device encryption in Windows 11 version 24H2 has changed how full-disk encryption is deployed during setup — and for many users that change increases the risk of being locked out of their own PC if they don't prepare for it. The operating system now...

If you’re about to hand off, sell, donate or recycle a Windows PC, the right way to wipe it matters — not just to protect your privacy, but to avoid hours of post‑sale headaches for the next user. The sensible playbook is simple: migrate what you need, make personal data irrecoverable, and...

Microsoft has quietly moved the heavy lifting for BitLocker off the CPU and into silicon — a change that promises big wins for NVMe performance and battery life on supported Windows 11 PCs while also reshaping recovery, compliance, and fleet management for IT teams. Background / Overview For...

Microsoft’s move to push BitLocker out of the CPU and into dedicated silicon promises to change the trade-offs between always‑on disk encryption and raw NVMe performance — delivering large gains for I/O‑heavy workloads while also shifting key‑management and recovery responsibilities in ways that...

Microsoft’s recent push to move BitLocker encryption out of the CPU and into purpose-built silicon is a defining moment for Windows storage security: the company has added OS-level support for hardware-accelerated BitLocker in recent Windows 11 releases, promised large reductions in CPU overhead...

Microsoft says hardware-accelerated BitLocker will arrive on new Windows 11 PCs in 2026, moving bulk disk encryption work into dedicated silicon and wrapping encryption keys inside a hardware boundary to improve performance and reduce exposure to CPU/memory attacks. Background / Overview...

Encryption is meant to protect your data — but when Windows’ disk encryption suddenly demands a 48‑digit recovery key, that protection can turn into total lockout. Recent update waves and a steady move toward default device encryption on modern Windows installs have exposed a brittle part of the...

Microsoft’s decision to flip automatic device encryption on by default in Windows 11 version 24H2 changed a quiet, optional security feature into a near‑ubiquitous behavior for modern Windows installs — and that change has already surprised, inconvenienced, and in a few cases resulted in data...

A Windows reinstall that should have been routine instead turned into a data nightmare: a user reported two 3TB backup drives became inaccessible after a fresh Windows install when BitLocker — or Windows’ automatic device encryption — locked them and demanded recovery keys that the user did not...

Enable and Manage BitLocker and Device Encryption in Windows 10/11 (TPM & Recovery Keys) Difficulty: Intermediate | Time Required: 20-30 minutes Introduction Disk encryption protects your data if your device is lost or stolen. Windows provides two common encryption paths: BitLocker...

For years the reflex was simple: buy a third‑party antivirus suite and assume you were safer — but the calculus has shifted. A growing number of users and reviewers now say you can reasonably ditch paid antivirus software and rely on the built‑in protections in Windows Security (Microsoft...

If your laptop is still in your hands right now, treat that as a narrow window of opportunity: apply a handful of defensive settings that will protect your data, help you recover the device if it goes missing, and dramatically reduce the damage a thief can do. These changes take minutes, and...

Windows 11 now offers a built-in, local PC-to-PC transfer path inside the Windows Backup app that promises to simplify moving your files and settings to a new machine — but it comes with important caveats, sharp trade-offs, and a handful of setup steps most users will need to know before they...

Enable and Manage BitLocker Drive Encryption in Windows 10/11 (TPM & Recovery Keys) Difficulty: Intermediate | Time Required: 20-30 minutes Introduction BitLocker encrypts your drive so that data on your PC is protected if the device is lost, stolen, or someone tries to access it by removing the...

Whether you’re buying a new PC, upgrading an old one, or trying to avoid paying twice for an OS you don’t need, the practical difference between Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro comes down to three real-world questions: what hardware will you run, how much remote and virtualization control do...

Getting a new PC or performing a fresh install of Windows 11 is supposed to be a seamless, user-friendly experience—but recent changes to Microsoft’s setup requirements have left many users frustrated and searching for workarounds. Windows 11 now pushes, if not outright requires, a Microsoft...

The evolution of device encryption across mainstream operating systems is entering a pivotal new era—one fraught with both increased security and heightened risk of data loss, especially for those less familiar with the nuances of modern cryptography. As Microsoft expands the scope of...

A Microsoft account has evolved far beyond simply serving as a login credential for Windows 11. Under the surface, it powers a sophisticated suite of features—some beneficial, others potentially intrusive—that fundamentally shape the way users interact with their PCs. Many of these functions...

For many, the Trusted Platform Module, or TPM, first entered the spotlight in the wake of Microsoft's transition to Windows 11—a shift that sparked immediate controversy and pushed the acronym into the everyday vocabulary of the modern PC user. This hardware-based security feature, once the...