Windows 7 And Windows 8 Add Some New features and it is very useful and very easy to use also.you can protect your files folders,pictures and everything on your computer using BitLocker .You can use BitLocker Drive Encryption to help protect all files stored on the drive Windows is installed on (operating system drive) and on fixed data drives (such as internal hard drives). Your can use BitLocker To Go to help protect all files stored on removable data drives (such as external hard drives or USB flash drives).
Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption is a new security
feature that provides better data protection for your computer, by encrypting all data stored on the Windows operating system volume. (In this version of Windows, a volume consists of one or more partitions on one or more hard disks. BitLocker works with simple volumes, where one volume is one partition. A volume usually has a drive letter assigned, such as "C.")BitLocker allows you to encrypt a USB drive and restrict access with a password. When you connect the USB drive to a Windows 8 computer, you are prompted for the password and upon entering it you can read and write to the drive as you normally would. Without entering correct password you can’t read or write data from USB drive.
If you encrypt the operating system drive, BitLocker checks the computer during startup for any conditions that could represent a security risk (for example, a change to the BIOS or changes to any startup files). If a potential security risk is detected, BitLocker will lock the operating system drive and require a special BitLocker recovery key to unlock it. Make sure that you create this recovery key when you turn on BitLocker for the first time; otherwise, you could permanently lose access to your files. If your computer has the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip, BitLocker uses it to seal the keys that are used to unlock the encrypted operating system drive. When you start your computer, BitLocker asks the TPM for the keys to the drive and unlocks it.
- How To secure your USB drive using BitLocker?
- How to enable BitLocker?
Setting up BitLocker on a USB drive is a simple procedure.
- Once you insert a USB drive,
- Right-click on it and select the Enable BitLocker command from the menu.
- After clicking Enable Bitlocker, BitLocker will begin initializing your USB drive.
- Once the initialization process is complete,
- BitLocker will prompt you to set up a password that you will use to unlock the drive.
- If you have a smart card, you can use its PIN to unlock the drive.
- Here I have selected Password to protect USB instead of smart card.
After you set up a password or use a smart card, BitLocker will prompt you to store a recovery key. You can use the recovery key to unlock your drive in the event that you forget the password or lose your smart card.
When you create the password and save your recovery key, you’ll be prompted to begin the encryption process. Till now the above procedure is same for windows 7 as well. But in Windows 8 developer preview Microsoft enhance this mechanism. BitLocker will prompt you to select the method for encryption i.e. Encrypt used space only( Best for new PCs and drives) or Encrypt entire drive( Best for PCs and drives already in use)Bitlocker confirms that you want to encrypt the data. to begin encryption click on the button start encryption.
During the Encryption process you will see a progress bar. The time taken in Encryption is depend on the size of the disk. There is a Pause button that will allow you to temporarily halt the process should you need to perform another task. Once the encryption is complete, BitLocker displays a confirmation dialog box and changes the icon associated with the encrypted drive.
Now your USB drive is password protected and any unauthorized user can’t access your USB without knowing your password. When you later insert the BitLocker encrypted drive in the Windows 8 or Windows 7 system, you will immediately be prompted to enter the password. After Clicking More Options, you can select the Automatically Unlock on This Computer from Now On check box to store the password in Windows 8’s password cache. In case you forget your password you can enter the recovery key to access your data.
Once you click Unlock, you’ll see an AutoPlay dialog box that prompts you to view the files or use ReadyBoost. When you click the Open Folder to View Files button, you will be able to access the drive and its contents as you normally would.
In case you insert the BitLocker To Go encrypted drive in a Windows XP or Vista system, you will see an AutoPlay dialog box that prompts you to install the BitLocker To Go Reader. When you click this button, it will take just a moment to install and run the Reader. You’ll then see the BitLocker To Go Reader dialog box, which will prompt you to enter your password.
If you encrypt data drives (fixed or removable), you can unlock an encrypted drive with a password or a smart card, or set the drive to automatically unlock when you log on to the computer.
You can turn off BitLocker at any time, either temporarily by suspending it, or permanently by decrypting the drive.
Unlike Encrypting File System (EFS), which enables you to encrypt individual files, BitLocker encrypts the entire drive. You can log on and work with your files normally, but BitLocker can help block hackers from accessing the system files they rely on to discover your password, or from accessing your drive by removing it from your computer and installing it in a different computer.
When you add new files to a drive that is encrypted with BitLocker, BitLocker encrypts them automatically. Files remain encrypted only while they are stored in the encrypted drive. Files copied to another drive or computer are decrypted. If you share files with other users, such as through a network, these files are encrypted while stored on the encrypted drive, but they can be accessed normally by authorized users.
If you encrypt data drives (fixed or removable), you can unlock an encrypted drive with a password or a smart card, or set the drive to automatically unlock when you log on to the computer.
You can turn off BitLocker at any time, either temporarily by suspending it, or permanently by decrypting the drive.
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