How to stop Microsoft from letting the government see everything on your computer
Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images
WARNING: There isn’t a way to restore your recovery key once it is deleted. Before following the steps below, make sure you write down your Key ID and Recovery Key, and keep them in a safe place, either in a physical vault or in a trusted digital password manager. Even once your key has been removed from Microsoft’s servers, it will remain active for you to use as needed. That said, here’s how to proceed.
(1) On a web browser, go to the BitLocker recovery key section on your Microsoft account.
Screenshot by Zach Laidlaw
(2) Locate your device on the list. Depending on how many Windows machines you have owned, you may have to scroll to find your current PC.
Screenshot by Zach Laidlaw
(3) Write down your Key ID and Recovery Key somewhere safe. Click the three-dotted “More Options” menu on the right.
Screenshot by Zach Laidlaw
(4) Click delete.
Screenshot by Zach Laidlaw
Your recovery key has now been removed from your Microsoft account. However, due to Microsoft’s content deletion policies, it still may take another 30 days before the recovery key is completely removed from Microsoft’s servers.
Don’t trust your Windows PC
While it is simple enough to prevent government snooping by removing your BitLocker security key from Microsoft’s system, anyone who’s especially concerned about user privacy and security should consider an alternative desktop operating system. Neither Apple nor Google save copies of their customers’ encryption keys, ensuring that user data on Macs and Chromebooks can’t be handed over to the government, even with an official request. Linux machines are also notoriously difficult to crack in terms of digital security. As of today, Microsoft is the only major tech company that keeps encryption keys on hand, making Windows a poor choice for privacy-conscious users.
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