Microsoft’s BitLocker encryption feature, developed for the Windows operating system for security purposes, became a user’s nightmare. This tool, normally intended to protect data, resulted in the permanent loss of 6 TB of data, according to a Reddit user post. This incident poses a significant threat, especially for Windows 11 users. This incident highlights how a feature presented as a security measure can become an insurmountable obstacle.

BitLocker in Windows 11 can erase your data

It all began when a user noticed their computer was slowing down and decided to perform a clean install of Windows. Their system had six drives, one of which was the operating system. Two of these drives, D: and E:, each containing 3 TB of important backup files, were located on the drive. After reinstalling Windows, the user discovered that these two drives had been encrypted by BitLocker and were inaccessible. The worst part was that the user had never manually enabled BitLocker before.

The root cause of the problem is a new default setting introduced by Microsoft with Windows 11. If you log in with a Microsoft account during the Windows 11 installation, the operating system automatically activates BitLocker disk encryption. Because many users are unaware of this, they don’t bother saving the encryption key anywhere. This means that when the system is reinstalled or the disk is accessed from another computer, the recovery key required by Windows is not available, making data access impossible.

The victim tried numerous methods, including data recovery software, but was unsuccessful. BitLocker’s primary purpose is to protect data from unauthorized access, and breaking this encryption is nearly impossible. Desperately, upon reinstalling the system again, the user discovered that the C: drive, where the operating system was installed, had also been encrypted. Fortunately, he had noticed this and saved the new key. However, he couldn’t access the keys for the old disks from his Microsoft account either, leaving him with a 6TB archive.

This incident demonstrates that the risk of data loss isn’t the only problem with BitLocker. Tests have shown that software-based BitLocker encryption can reduce random read and write speeds on SSDs by up to 45% by putting additional load on the processor. This means that this background encryption process is likely the reason users initially complained about their computer slowing down. Therefore, it’s crucial for all Windows 11 users to check their disk’s encryption status and, if enabled, ensure the recovery key is saved in a safe place.

So, what are your thoughts on this? Have you ever checked whether BitLocker is enabled on your computer? What backup methods do you use to protect your valuable data? Share your experiences and opinions with us in the comments section.