gHacks technology news » bitlocker http://www.ghacks.net A technology blog covering software, mobile phones, gadgets, security, the Internet and other relevant areas. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:37:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 BitLocker To Go Reader http://www.ghacks.net/2009/11/02/bitlocker-to-go-reader/ http://www.ghacks.net/2009/11/02/bitlocker-to-go-reader/#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:30:40 +0000 Martin http://www.ghacks.net/?p=18010 Bitlocker is a data encryption technology that Microsoft implemented into Ultimate and Enterprise editions of Windows Vista and Windows 7. The latest version of Bitlocker, which is only available for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 users, adds the function to encrypt removable storage devices with Bitlocker. This could however be problematic in situations where no computer system that supports Bitlocker is available.

Microsoft has therefor created a solution for this problem by introducing the Bitlocker To Go Reader so that the data on the portable device can be read in operating systems that are not supporting Bitlocker. Microsoft’s solution is the Bitlocker To Go Reader, a software program compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 that can be used to decrypt the data on a Bitlocker encrypted removable storage device.

bitlocker to go reader

Bitlocker To Go Reader is added to the removable storage device when it is encrypted. The program will automatically be displayed if autoplay is enabled on the computer system when the user connects the removable storage device that has been encrypted with Bitlocker To Go. A right-click on the device and the selection of autoplay or a double-click on the drive icon in Windows are the other options to display the Bitlocker To Go Reader window.

The user only needs to enter the password the data was encrypted with to decrypt and access it on the other operating system. An alternative to encrypt file systems, removable storage devices and other data is the open source software True Crypt which we have reviewed in the past. True Crypt offers the advantage of encrypting and decrypting data not only in Windows but also Linux and Mac OS.wp-image-19416″ />

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]]> http://www.ghacks.net/2009/11/02/bitlocker-to-go-reader/feed/ 1 Enable Bitlocker On Unsupported Hardware http://www.ghacks.net/2009/03/22/enable-bitlocker-on-unsupported-hardware/ http://www.ghacks.net/2009/03/22/enable-bitlocker-on-unsupported-hardware/#comments Sun, 22 Mar 2009 14:19:38 +0000 Martin http://www.ghacks.net/2009/03/22/enable-bitlocker-on-unsupported-hardware/ Bitlocker is an additional software component that gets distributed with Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate and Enterprise only. It can be used to encrypt full partitions on computer systems but can only be run on supported hardware. Bitlocker by default does require a Trusted Platform Module chip (TPM Chip) that is located on the computer’s motherboard. This chip contains a cryptographic key that Bitlocker uses in the encryption process.

There is however a way to enable Bitlocker encryption even if the computer does not have a TPM chip. The following method will enable Bitlocker and should work in the upcoming Microsoft operating system Windows 7 as well.

  • Run [gpedit.msc] by either clicking on the Windows Vista Start Menu button or by using the shortcut [Windows R]. This will open the Group Policy Editor.
  • Locate the following menu: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\BitLocker Drive Encryption
  • Enable the Advanced Startup Options by double-clicking on Control Panel Setup to display the advanced options.
  • Click on Enabled and check the Allow Bitlocker Without A Compatible TPM Checkbox.

bitlocker

A click on OK will enable Bitlocker on computer systems without Trusted Platform Module chips. It is from then on possible to save the Bitlocker encryption key on an external storage device like an USB stick or Flash memory card. This key is essential for accessing the encrypted partitions. There is no way of accessing the encrypted partition or hard drive if the storage device gets damaged or lost.

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