How to download BitLocker?

 On computers with Windows operating systems, we find a function, installed by default, which allows us to encrypt an entire hard drive.

In this way, we will increase the security of the documents and multimedia contents saved on our PC. The tool is called BitLocker, and here's how to activate it.

As mentioned BitLocker is found by default on Windows systems, but the tool is not activated automatically. We'll have to set it up manually to improve cybersecurity. First, we must specify that there are three Windows versions on which BitLocker is pre-set: Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7 Ultimate. With BitLocker, we can decide to encrypt the entire hard disk or create a "container" protected by encryption in which to insert only the most important and confidential documents. For greater security, the advice is to encrypt all data.

What is BitLocker

Encrypting an entire storage drive with BitLocker is very simple. Just activate the service and protect it with a PIN. Before seeing how to activate the function, however, we must check if ours is a computer with a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) on the motherboard. It is basically a chip that generates and stores the cryptographic keys used by BitLocker. If we don't have the TPM chip we can still activate BitLocker, but it will be a little less secure. Furthermore, with BitLocker in addition to the hard disk, thanks to the function called BitLocker To Go, we could also protect external drives, such as USB sticks or external hard drives.

How to activate BitLocker

To enable BitLocker on Windows 10 just go to File Explorer than on the entry This PC and then press the right button on the drive that distinguishes our hard drive. At this point, a menu will appear from which we must choose the BitLocker Enable option. If we do not see this option correctly, it means that we are not using a Pro or Enterprise version of Windows. And in this case, we will have to use another file encryption service, such as the TrueCrypt or Veracrypt programs.

Check BitLocker support

BitLocker is available by default on all computers running Windows 10 in the Pro, Enterprise, or Education version. To check if your PC supports encryption it is necessary to type in the application bar "System Information" and right-click on the result shown by the computer. A pop-up menu will appear and click on " Run as administrator " A new window will open and you will have to check if next to the item.

Choose an unlock method

Once BitLocker is activated, we will be redirected to the page where you can choose the method for unlocking documents. There are several possible solutions. For example, you can unlock your hard drive with a password, a PIN but also with a USB drive that will act as a key. And if our PC has biometric sensors we can also select the fingerprint scanner to unlock the encrypted files.

Stores the recovery key

Once the wizard for choosing the unlocking method has been completed, we will have to memorize the recovery key. BitLocker, in fact, provides a recovery key that allows us to access the encrypted files if we lose the PIN or master password. The advice is to save this data in a safe place. Like our Microsoft account, inside a USB stick or to print it and take it with us.

Encrypt new files

Once it's active, BitLocker saves and encrypts every new file we save on the hard drive. In this way, it will be very convenient to increase our IT security. Because once the initial installation is complete we won't have to worry about a thing anymore. As for the encryption methods, the safest system is that of Windows 10 which uses the XTS-AES standard. On Windows 7 and 8, on the other hand, BitLocker uses the encryption standard called AES. If we have the latest version of Windows we can still choose which standard to use based on our preferences. Remember that encrypting a file takes much longer than "normal" saving a document.