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Device encryption on Windows 10 Home

Anonymous
2018-04-02T17:43:22+00:00

OK, the most recent question on this I saw was dated about a year ago, and the Microsoft response seemed to be that it can't happen, but guess what, it does.

So, I aam asking an old question again.

I have a reasonably new Dell Inspiron 15 with Windows 10 Home. Bitlocker is not installed on it, but nevertheless there is an option, Settings -> Device Encryption which is set to "on".  I honestly don't remember if I selected encrypting the C: drive or not the first time I logged in, but if Bitlocker isn't included on Windows 10 Home...

1)  why would I even have been asked if I wanted encryption?

2)  how did it actually encrypt the drive?

  1. Why is there a device encryption option in settings?
  2. How do I decrypt? Backup keeps telling me the drive is encrypted. Will simply de-selecting the device encryption option decrypt the C: drive?

When the laptop hosed up performing an update, I was locked out until I was able to get the Bitlocker key. Again, I don't have Bitlocker, why did I need a key?

And since I saw this in prior Microsoft responses

this laptop has not been out of my control, ever.

It has been protected by trend micro since purchase

I don't answer or click on unsolicited emails or other crap on webpages.

The only software installed on the machine is iTunes and whatever other stuff Apple includes, Canon printer drivers, a bunch of Dell pre-installed stuff, Vim, Legacy Family tree, eraser, Firefox, and LibreOffice.

There is also MS Office 365 and MS OneDrive dated a couple of weeks ago. I never asked for MS office and don't know why it is there nor how it got there unless an update did it.

I wouldn't have installed Dropbox if Dell or Microsoft hadn't sent it with the PC. I clicked poorly when given the option to install or not.

Any response appreciated

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Security and privacy

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  1. @CmdrKeene 90,621 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2018-04-03T03:00:20+00:00

    Well, the naming convention doesn't help.  It may not be bitlocker, but it still has encryption ability. (Surface RT tablets several years ago had the same ability).

    Encryption is used by default, similar to how iPhones (and now, Android) do it.  Basically it is secure from the start.  If you don't want security you can turn it off, but otherwise it is always secure right when you take it out of the box.

    Yes you can decrypt the drive, and if you search the start menu for "encryption" it should take you to a search result where you can go turn it off and decrypt the drive.

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-04-04T20:07:38+00:00

    Thanks. I posted this because backup reminded me that the drive was enrypted and ticked me off. In the interim I just blew on through that message. Fortunately backup worked, well on the second try. Some nonsense about not being able to opbtain an exclusive lock on something the first time...

    It would be nice if Microsoft let its users know what product was performing encryption and how since they are so clear in tellng us that we don't get BitLocker on Home edition.

    Anyway, thanks.

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