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Microsoft gave FBI a set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects' laptops: Reports | TechCrunch (techcrunch.com)
submitted 7 months ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] 0 points 7 months ago (1 child)

Microsoft built the encryption in Windows so know how to get around it. In theory that remains a closely guarded secret but there are the warrants and the NSA and...

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  • [–] 9 points 7 months ago (1 child)

    Nope, this isn't even a "backdoor". The key itself was automatically uploaded to your microsoft account, so they can just take the key from the microsoft servers and walk right in. This isn't some secret, a quick online search will reveal this as public information. They literally tell you the key will get uploaded.

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  • [–] 1 point 7 months ago (1 child)

    I’d go as far as to say it’s similar to a landlord requiring a key to access the apartment your renting from them. Sure, they probably won’t abuse that power, most don’t, but the doesn’t mean they can’t.

    The bigger picture to me is it’s pretty clear then internally, Microsoft views you as a “tenant” of THEIR OS. Not a purchaser. This is why they use the words “This PC” in replace of “My PC”.

    Yes, I think we can absolutely say that companies are pushing for consumers to use the cloud instead of their own hardware, but in this context, I’d say it’s more egregious showing their mindset that you’re just renting their software from them.

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  • [–] 1 point 7 months ago

    Nah, a landlord cannot legally deny access to an apartment/house you paid for, like you can literally call the cops (make sure you have a copy of the lease safely stored on your phone or something) and get let back in. They need a court case to evict you.

    But microsoft can deny access your OS, and with the manatory full disk encryption implemented, you can't even get back in to retrieve your data. (kinda like WannaCrypt) And this would be all legal since ToS and mandatory arbittation bs. No court case needed to hold your files hostage.

    So I'd say Microsoft is like 10x worse than a landlord

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