Microsoft has given the FBI keys to unlock three laptops encrypted with BitLocker during a fraud investigation
BitLocker is usually turned on for Windows computers. It helps make sure only the owner can access the data when the computer is off. But these special keys can be stored in Microsoft’s cloud. This means that both Microsoft and crime investigators can use them to unlock computers.
The laptops are linked to a case about fraud with unemployment help during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reports say that the FBI got a search warrant after they took the laptops. Microsoft said they often share these keys with police and usually get about 20 requests each year.
Experts are worried about privacy issues. Matthew Green, a professor who studies encryption, mentioned that hackers could possibly steal these keys from Microsoft’s cloud. He noted that if someone got these keys, they would still need to have the actual laptops to unlock them. People have known about such risks for years, and Green believes Microsoft should do better to protect these important keys.