BitLocker is the hard disk encryption software from Microsoft. This software is included by default in the Professional edition of Windows 10 and allows users to encrypt all data on the drives so that they are stored securely. Thus, in case of theft, or if someone tries to recover our data, they will not be able to do so if they do not have the corresponding encryption key.
Data encryption is one of the best security measures we can take today to prevent our personal files from falling into bad hands. However, it is also dangerous, because if something fails we will completely lose access to them.
If our computer and the operating system work normally we have nothing to worry about. When we turn on the computer we will enter the encryption password and all the data will be accessible. However, when something goes wrong, for whatever reason, it is when the problems begin.
The purpose of encryption is to prevent anyone, whoever it is, from accessing the data without the right software or password. Not even ourselves. Therefore, if our operating system fails or gets corrupted, we will most likely lose access to the data we had on the hard drive.
Luckily, there is a simple program that seeks to help us recover the data inside a unit encrypted with BitLocker. This is BitLockerUtility.
BitLockerUtility: the must-have software for BitLocker users
BitLockerUtility is a completely free and open source software designed so that users who have problems starting the computer with an encrypted hard drive can retrieve the information in it.
This software is based on a WinPE image together with a series of PowerShell scripts in a clear and simple terminal interface so that anyone can recover the data if they have problems starting Windows.
The main features of this software are:
- Generates the recovery ID associated with the encryption key.
- Unlock the units encrypted with BitLocker (provided you have the recovery key).
- It allows you to suspend BitLocker in the unit.
- It allows you to turn off encryption, and therefore decrypt the entire unit.
- Shows all storage units, both encrypted and unencrypted.
- Open a command line to control the PC.
In the following video we can see this tool in action, thus seeing how it is used and how it helps us recover the hijacked data within a drive encrypted with BitLocker.
Some practical cases in which this program can help us are, for example, when Windows does not finish booting with a blue screen, the operating system is corrupted or when data recovery software has not been able to repair corrupted data.
How to download and use this tool
As we have said, BitLockerUtility is a completely free and open source tool. In order to use it, the first thing we must do is access the following link to download the latest version available.
BitLockerUtility is distributed as an ISO image, an image that we will have to use in Live mode to boot the computer. Therefore, to use it, it is best to use the Rufus program to burn this ISO to a USB memory.
Once the ISO has been saved to the USB memory, we can start the computer with it and follow the instructions to recover the data inside the unit encrypted with BitLocker.
