Microsoft gave FBI set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops
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Re: Microsoft gave FBI set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops
#2Quid pro quo.
Re: Microsoft gave FBI set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops
#3> The case involved several people suspected of fraud related to the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program
If it were preventing a mass murder I might feel differently...
But this is protecting the money supply (and indirectly the governments control).
Not a reason to violate privacy IMO, especially when at the time this was done these people were only suspected of fraud, not convicted.
Re: Microsoft gave FBI set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops
#4> Microsoft told Forbes that the company sometimes provides BitLocker recovery keys to authorities, having received an average of 20 such requests per year.
At least they are honest about it, but a good reason to switch over to linux. Particularly if you travel.
If microsoft is giving these keys out to the US government, they are almost certainly giving them to all other governments that request them.
Re: Microsoft gave FBI set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops
#5FYI BitLocker is on by default in Windows 11. The defaults will also upload the BitLocker key to a Microsoft Account if available.
This is why the FBI can compel Microsoft to provide the keys. It's possible, perhaps even likely, that the suspect didn't even know they had an encrypted laptop. Journalists love the "Microsoft gave" framing because it makes Microsoft sound like they're handing these out because they like the cops, but that's not how it works. If your company has data that the police want and they can get a warrant, you have no choice but to give it to them.
This makes the privacy purists angry, but in my opinion it's the reasonable default for the average computer user. It protects their data in the event that someone steals the laptop, but still allows them to recover their own data later from the hard drive.
Any power users who prefer their own key management should follow the steps to enable Bitlocker without uploading keys to a connected Microsoft account.
Re: Microsoft gave FBI set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops
#6> Microsoft told Forbes that the company sometimes provides BitLocker recovery keys to authorities, having received an average of 20 such requests per year. At least they are honest about it, but a good reason to switch over to linux. Particularly if you travel. If microsoft is giving these keys out to the US government, they are almost certainly giving them to all other governments that request them.
It's not like companies have a choice. If they have a key in their possession and law enforcement gets an order for it, they have to provide it.
Re: Microsoft gave FBI set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops
#7Water is wet. More news at 11
Re: Microsoft gave FBI set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops
#8This is almost certainly users who elect to store their BitLocker keys in OneDrive.
Don't think Apple wouldn't do the same.
If you don't want other people to have access to your keys, don't give your keys to other people.
Re: Microsoft gave FBI set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops
#9FYI BitLocker is on by default in Windows 11. The defaults will also upload the BitLocker key to a Microsoft Account if available. This is why the FBI can compel Microsoft to provide the keys. It's possible, perhaps even likely, that the suspect didn't even know they had an encrypted laptop. Journalists love the "Microsoft gave " framing because it makes Microsoft sound like they're handing these out because they lik…
Any power users should avoid Windows entirely.
Re: Microsoft gave FBI set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops
#10> Microsoft told Forbes that the company sometimes provides BitLocker recovery keys to authorities, having received an average of 20 such requests per year. At least they are honest about it, but a good reason to switch over to linux. Particularly if you travel. If microsoft is giving these keys out to the US government, they are almost certainly giving them to all other governments that request them.
All other governments is a stretch here, but likelihood of at least one another government getting same privileges is extremely high.