Part 8/15:
Azure's BitLocker drive encryption exemplifies the invasive nature of Windows 11’s security architecture. Although encryption sounds beneficial, the author experienced firsthand how enabling BitLocker on a new device could lock out the user, especially when attempting to disable Secure Boot.
In a typical scenario, turning off Secure Boot on a new Windows 11 device triggers a lock-down at the BIOS level. Without a recovery partition—eliminated in recent hardware—users must create custom boot media to regain access, often risking data loss. Furthermore, the recovery keys, stored in the TPM and linked to the user’s Microsoft ID, can be accessed or recovered through Microsoft’s cloud, undermining the supposed security benefits and transferring ownership from the user to Microsoft.