Encrypting Removable Media

Transcription

1 For security reasons all removable media must be encrypted with BitLocker to Go on Windows 7 workstations. The following will show you how to use a flash drive with BitLocker to Go. Please note that data on a drive encrypted with BitLocker to Go can only be modified on a Windows 7 workstation. On a Windows XP workstation, files can only be viewed. BitLocker encrypted drives are inaccessible in a Mac OS. Encrypting Removable Media BitLocker to Go Documentation When you plug in a flash drive or external hard drive you will be prompted with the following dialog box: If you click Don t encrypt this drive you will be able to immediately view the files on the drive, but you will not be able to save new files or modify existing files on the drive. You will need to click Encrypt this drive using BitLocker Drive Encryption to begin the encryption process. The encryption process must be performed on-campus with a network connection to the College domain. The above window appears for a few moments while the drive is being initialized. Once the drive is initialized, the above window appears. You are required to enter a password that meets password complexity requirements (at least one uppercase letter, one lower case letter, and one number or symbol). You may use the same password that you use to login. Once you ve typed and retyped your password, click Next

2 Are you ready to encrypt this drive? message appears. Click Start Encrypting The above window appears for a moment while the encryption process is being prepared to start. This above window appears while your dive is being encrypted. This process can take anywhere between 10 minutes and an hour depending on the size of your drive (external hard drives could take even longer). Be sure you allow ample time for this process to complete.

3 Once the encryption process is complete, the above window will display for a few moments, please wait for this window to disappear on its own. Once the encryption process is complete you can access your jump drive as normal from Windows Explorer or by double clicking the Computer icon on the desktop.

4 Using an Encrypted Drive in Windows 7 Each time you plug your jump drive into a Windows 7 workstation you will be prompted with the following dialog box: Type in the password that you used to encrypt the drive and click Unlock. Optionally, you have the option to Automatically unlock on this computer from now on, but this option should only be used on your workstation, and only if your workstation is not shared with others. In Windows Explorer (or double click the Computer icon on the desktop) it is very easy to tell whether a drive is locked or unlocked. When a drive is locked it will display a gold locked lock icon, and when the drive is unlocked it will display a silver unlocked lock icon. When you double click a drive with the gold locked lock icon, you will be automatically prompted with the dialog box to enter the password to unlock the drive.

5 Using an Encrypted Drive in Windows XP (Read Only!) When using your BitLocker to Go encrypted drive in Windows XP, it works a little differently than it does in Windows 7. You will not be able to make changes, or save new files, to the drive when connected to a Windows XP workstation. When you plug your drive into a Windows XP workstation, the drive will appear in My Computer with the gold locked lock icon indicating that the drive is encrypted with BitLocker to Go and you will only be able to view or copy files from the drive. When you double click the drive, you are not prompted to enter a password, but instead the drive is opened and all that you ll see is BitLockerToGo.exe and Read Me. Double click BitLockerToGo.exe to unlock the drive. The window above will appear. Type in the password that you used to encrypt the drive and click Unlock.

6 The BitLocker To Go Reader window opens, displaying the files saved on the drive. When double clicking a file in the BitLocker To Go Reader window, you will be prompted with the above message. Click Yes to make a copy of the file on the desktop. You can open, modify, and save the file located on the desktop, but you will not be able to move or copy this file back to the drive. If you attempt to copy a file into the BitLocker To Go Reader window, you will be prompted with the above message. Files on a BitLocker to Go encrypted drive can only be modified in Windows 7. BitLocker to Go Documentation Revision /29/2010