What Is BitLocker? Features, Uses, and Key Details

Overview

This guide explains bitlocker in clear, practical terms. It covers the key concepts, recommended steps, common limitations, and useful checks so you can make a better-informed decision.

There are many of you who want to find a way to secure your data but do not know how or only know how to use third-party software. But do you know, from Windows 7 onwards, Microsoft has integrated an extremely useful security tool called Bitlocker. Hearing this, many of you are still quite unfamiliar with this feature. So what exactly is BitLocker? Should you use it? And how to use it? Let's explore through this article!

What Is BitLocker?

BitLocker is a security program that helps encrypt hard drives, memory cards or USBs. integrated by Microsoft from Windows 7 to secure information and data. Until now, it is still integrated on Windows 8 and 10. Compared to other security software, BitLocker is rated much higher or it can be said that this is the best security software currently on the Windows platform. Since its introduction by Microsoft, no one, even professional hackers, has been able to claim that they have hacked the BitLocker password. And so, illegally decrypting BitLocker seems to be an impossible task, perhaps only its creator, Microsoft, has a solution to this problem.

According to Microsoft, BitLocker uses the AES encryption algorithm in the form of 128-bit or 256-bit characters to encrypt a partition or all data in the storage device. This complex mechanism helps to optimally secure your data when the hard drive is stolen or someone is stalking and intentionally stealing data. No one can read the data in your computer when encrypted by BitLocker unless it is unlocked when you provide authentication codes such as Windows password.

What operating systems does BitLocker support?

Currently, this tool is built into Microsoft operating system products:

- Windows Vista and Windows 7 (Enterprise, Ultimate editions)

- Windows 8 (Pro, Enterprise editions)

- Windows 8.1 (Pro, Enterprise editions)

- Windows 10 (Pro, Enterprise, Education editions)

How to use BitLocker on Windows 10

Step 1: To enable BitLocker to protect your hard drive, first select the hard drive that needs encryption. Right-click and select Turn on BitLocker

Step 2: After the BitLocker initialization process is completed, a password setup window appears. In it, you check the box Use a password to unlock the drive to confirm using the password to unlock BitLocker.

Enter your password in the Enter your password box and confirm the password in the Reenter your password box. Click Next to continue.

Step 3: BitLocker will prompt you to save the password to unlock the drive in case you forget it. At this step, you should not use the Save to your cloud domain account option, as it requires your computer to join Microsoft Azure Active Directory, which is currently not available. Instead, you should use the Save to a file option and store the recovery key in a safe place. After saving the recovery key, click Next.

Step 4: BitLocker will ask you more about how to secure hard drive encryption. In which:

• If you are using a new drive, select Encrypt used disk space only
• If you are using a drive with data, select Encrypt entire drive.

Click Next to continue.

Step 5: Select encryption mode

If you plan to use the encrypted drive on older Windows platforms before Window 10, select Compatible mode.

If you'll only be using the drive on a Windows 10 machine, select New encryption mode, the latest encryption mode.

Then press Next to continue.

Step 6: Are you ready to encrypt this drive? If you are ready, click Start encrypting

The hard drive encryption process will take a few minutes, depending on the hardware configuration or the capacity being encrypted. When finished, click Close to finish. The next time you access the encrypted hard drive, you will be required to enter the password to read the data inside it.

Above, this guide has helped you understand clearly what BitLocker is and how to use it. Please remember the password in particular or if you often forget, note the location where the password is saved.

Key Takeaways

Use the guidance above as a practical reference for bitlocker. Check compatibility, follow the steps carefully, and verify important details with official documentation when software, security, accounts, health, or purchases are involved.