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To use FileVault, you need to go to System Preferences and click on Security & Privacy. You can encrypt the entire drive and a separate boot volume is created to store user authentication information unencrypted. FileVault in OS XįileVault in OS X provides the same functionality as BitLocker does in Windows. If you put your computer to sleep, the keys could be stolen by savvy hackers, so you should always shutdown your computer when you’re not using it. Again, it’s important to note that using BitLocker without TPM is a lot less secure and even if you use TPM, you need to use it with a PIN or with a USB key or with both to be truly protected.Īlso, it’s worthwhile to note that while you are logged in, the keys are stored in RAM memory. Once completed, your data is now safely encrypted and cannot be accessed without your keys.
If all goes well and Windows is able to read the encryption keys off your USB stick or from the TPM, then you should see a dialog pop up telling you that the drive is being encrypted. It’s best not to print it.Īfter this, you’ll finally be asked if you’re ready to encrypt the hard drive, which will require a restart. You can save it to a USB drive, to a file or print it. Next you’ll need to also create a recovery key. You’ll be asked to insert a USB stick at which point it will save the startup key there. If you don’t have a TPM installed, you won’t be able to use a PIN for startup, but only a USB key. On the next screen, you’ll get to choose your BitLocker security options. Click Next to start the actual hard drive encryption.
Once Windows restarts, the BitLocker setup should pop up automatically with a check mark next to drive setup. After it is finished, you’ll be asked to restart your computer. You might have to wait for a few minutes while the C drive is first shrunken down and the new partition is created. To prepare the drive, Windows needs two partitions: one small System partition and one operating system partition. The setup basically prepares your drive and then encrypts it. Instead, the BitLocker Drive Encryption setup will start. Once you’ve followed the directions in that post, you should be able to click on Turn On BitLocker again and the error message should not appear. If not, you’ll get the following error message: “ A compatible Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Security Device must be present on this computer, but a TPM was not found.” To fix this, read my previous post on this TPM problem when enabling BitLocker. If you have a newer computer with a processor that supports TPM, you’re good to go and the process will start. To get started, all you have to do is click on Turn On BitLocker. You’ll see a list of all your partitions and drives listed on the main screen. Open the Control Panel in Windows and click on BitLocker Drive Encryption. Now let’s talk about actually enabling BitLocker. If someone, even the police, can get access to that paper, they can decrypt your entire hard drive. Never print a backup key on paper and store it somewhere. This is not as secure as using TPM with a PIN or TPM with a USB key or TPM with both a PIN and a USB key.Ĥ. Older computers that don’t support TMP can only use the USB key authentication mechanism.
#Encrypt usb drive windows 7 bitlocker download password
The PIN is a password that has to be entered by the user before the booting process.ģ.
#Encrypt usb drive windows 7 bitlocker download plus
For the greatest security, you want to use TPM plus a PIN. There are three authentication mechanisms in BitLocker: TPM (Trusted Platform Module), PIN, and USB key.
#Encrypt usb drive windows 7 bitlocker download pro
BitLocker works on the Ultimate and Enterprise versions of Windows Vista and Windows 7 and on the Pro and Enterprise versions of Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.Ģ.
#Encrypt usb drive windows 7 bitlocker download how to
Before we get into how to enable BitLocker, there are a couple of things you should know first:ġ. In Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8, you can turn on drive encryption by enabling BitLocker. The TrueCrypt team even recommends using BitLocker as it can do pretty much everything TrueCrypt was able to do. The program had been one of the most popular for encrypting your hard drive, but now that it is no longer supported, we don’t recommend using it. Previously, I had written about using a program called TrueCrypt, but it seems the project has been discontinued for various reasons.