You can then proceed with the encryption process. If so, when you click Turn on BitLocker, you’ll be given the choice of using a password or a smart card to unlock the drive and then to save your related recovery key to a Microsoft account, save it to a file or print it out. In order to use BitLocker to encrypt the system drive (C: in this case) your computer must be equipped with a Trusted Platform Module capable of supporting this feature. Open Manage BitLocker, and then you will be taken to a screen similar to the following: Right-clicking Start, then searching for BitLocker. If you’re an individual consumer user, you can get started by simply right-clicking Start, then searching for BitLocker. These settings allow you to determine which drives to encrypt, how to distribute the related keys (also known as certificates), whether and how to use additional authentication, whether and how to use external media like USB flash drives or smart cards to contain keys or facilitate authentication, denying access to non-BitLocker-protected volumes, password requirements and more. Like just about all things Microsoft, BitLocker can be configured in a corporate environment using Group Policy. If you’re a home user, the first option is obviously the best, and for corporate users the second. Best encryption softwareīitLocker’s primary strength is whole-disk encryption, though it can be used for individual file encryption with some stipulations I’ll cover below.īitLocker requires you to use a Microsoft account or join your PC to a domain. The type of encryption I’m discussing in the scope of this article relates to file encryption to secure data accessed either locally or remotely, either on a per-file or per-folder basis or applied to entire disk volumes. VPN connections and browsers that access secure websites prefaced with “ in the URL use encryption with which the end user or IT department does not have to take any specific action (other than those responsible for administering the web servers or network endpoints and the manner in which they operate). There are different types of encryptions involving data and network traffic. Top 10 open-source security and operational risks of 2023Īs a cybersecurity blade, ChatGPT can cut both waysĬloud security, hampered by proliferation of tools, has a “forest for trees” problemĮlectronic data retention policy (TechRepublic Premium)Ī Windows laptop that is lost or stolen still by default (if not using BitLocker, which we’ll cover) contains unencrypted data easy to extract if an unauthorized individual simply boots the system from a flash drive containing another operating system or removes the computer’s hard drive and connects it to another system for access. It’s important to point out that basic device security measures like passwords and biometric authentication, while useful to restrict unauthorized access, aren’t the complete picture when it comes to protecting data. Tax returns, account information, copies of identification, Social Security details, bank statements and more should be carefully kept out of the wrong hands. Securing data via encryption is useful for businesses and consumers alike, especially as our society becomes more and more digitally oriented. SEE: Security incident response: Critical steps for cyberattack recovery (TechRepublic Premium) This code can theoretically be cracked or broken but strong encryption methods are nearly impervious to such manipulation.Įncryption of data not only entails securing it on local workstations or remote servers, but it must also protect the data when in transit meaning being accessed or transmitted from one party or entity to another. How to pick the encryption software that’s right for youĮncryption is the process of securing information by translating it into a sort of computer code that is unreadable to anyone not possessing the right credentials, passwords or other authentication means to access this information.
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