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Note that a vulnerability in this feature, first disclosed in November 2018, could expose data under certain circumstances. On self-encrypting solid-state drives that support hardware encryption, Windows will offload the work of encrypting and decrypting data to the hardware.
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To complete the encryption process, you must perform one of the following steps:
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Windows Setup automatically creates the necessary partitions and initializes encryption on the operating system drive with a clear key. On all devices that meet the BitLocker hardware requirements (see the previous section for details), device encryption is automatically enabled. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping.
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