theft protection
4 articles with this tag
How to turn off BitLocker: decide whether suspending is enough, and save the recovery key first
Turning off BitLocker fully decrypts the drive. Microsoft says decryption should happen when protection is no longer needed, not as a troubleshooting step. For BIOS or firmware updates, Suspend protection is enough. Save the recovery key outside the PC first; on Pro use Turn off BitLocker in Control Panel or manage-bde -off, on Home switch off Device encryption in Settings. Don't decrypt work or school PCs yourself. To sell or give away a PC, don't decrypt: reset it with Remove everything and Clean data.
What is BitLocker: Windows disk encryption that protects data on a lost or stolen device
BitLocker is Windows' built-in disk encryption. It protects data when the PC is off or the drive is removed, turning a theft or loss into ciphertext. The main thing to get right is the recovery key: lose it and you lock yourself out. It does not protect a running, logged-in PC, so pair it with a strong login and auto-lock.
BitLocker vs 'Device encryption' — the same technology, full version vs automatic lite
BitLocker and Device encryption share the same encryption engine. Device encryption = the automatic, lite version that works on Home (auto-on with a Microsoft account, recovery key auto-escrowed, minimal options). BitLocker = the full version on Pro+ (startup PIN, external-drive encryption via To Go, fine control). For individuals, being auto-encrypted plus knowing where the recovery key is is usually enough. The state matters more than the name.
Securing a laptop you carry around — protecting against theft, loss, and shoulder-surfing
Carrying a laptop assumes you'll lose it or it'll be stolen. The main defense is setting it up so a loss doesn't leak the contents: disk encryption (BitLocker/FileVault), a strong login with a short auto-lock, and remote wipe/locate. With HTTPS everywhere, public-Wi-Fi sniffing is lower priority; the real threats are rogue APs, shoulder-surfing, and walking away. Don't over-trust a VPN — harden the device first.