How Secure Is Bitlocker?


  1. Posts : 181
    Windows 10 Pro. Version 10.0.19045 Build 19045
       #1

    How Secure Is Bitlocker?


    I have read, on the Internet, that Bitlocker can be got into, without using the password, by 'experts using encryption breaking tools.

    I use a 13 part password, incorporating upper case & lower case letters, numbers and special (punctuation?) symbols.

    So, just how secure is Bitlocker?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 3,257
    Windows 10 Pro
       #2

    There really isn't a better alternative. The only real alternative, TrueCrypt has been officially discontinued, and while they didn't come out and say it, it's likely that it's able to be broken by a sufficiently powerful cracking hardware.

    If you're using a TPM chip, then its going to be secure against all but the most determined attackers. For instance, one method of attacking such a system is to freeze the RAM in liquid nitrogen, then use an electron Microscope to read the "state" of the RAM, and search it for the encryption keys in memory. There's also a technique that can use an active Firewire port to read memory (though most PC's don't have firewire ports, and most that do have them disabled by default).

    In general, the XKCD rule applies: xkcd: Security

    If you can get into the system, it's likely that anyone that is determined enough to crack your system will just torture you, use leverage against you, or some other tactic to simply get you to divulge your password.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 181
    Windows 10 Pro. Version 10.0.19045 Build 19045
    Thread Starter
       #3

    @Mystere
    My laptop does not have a TPM chip. "freeze the RAM", "electron microscope" ... heck, this sounds very Jame Bond style. lol.
    I never thought of it that way before. I suppose it does happen in some circles.

    "torture you, use leverage against you" ... They would have the password just by showing me a set of 'nut' crackers. After all, they would only find some 'cough' sensitive videos that I don't want my wife to know about. lol

    How about if I was a drug smuggler and the police wanted to 'crack' the Bitlocker for information, would they be able to, within the law?

    Your link to
    xkcd.com does not make sense to me as I find no information about security. What is it supposed to show?
    Last edited by theoldfarter; 17 Dec 2015 at 01:10. Reason: adding text
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 3,257
    Windows 10 Pro
       #4

    theoldfarter;504610
    Your link to [/COLOR said:
    xkcd.com does not make sense to me as I find no information about security. What is it supposed to show?
    It's a cartoon.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 181
    Windows 10 Pro. Version 10.0.19045 Build 19045
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Ah, I see the cartoon now. On my previous visit, where the cartoon is, was just blank.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 234
    Windows 10 Pro (x64)
       #6

    All the attacks on Bitlocker, require to computer to be already running and unlocked. Otherwise they are forced to brute force the password and orcthe encryption key, both highly time consuming. More so if you have a long secure password.

    To further add, the same attacks they use on Bitlocker work the same for other disk encryption schemes. They try to pull the encryption key from the RAM of an active machine.
      My Computer


 

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