How to encrypt your computer hard drive
On this page you can read more about encryption on computers, and how you can get your computer encrypted.
AU follows the recommendation from the Centre for Cyber Security regarding encryption of computers. Encrypting computers will help secure data in case of loss or theft.
All computers delivered from IT Support will automatically be encrypted.
What is disk encryption?
Encryption gives a higher data security because you cannot get access to the data on your computer, without having your login information. This means that if your computer for example gets stolen your data is safe.
Are my computer encrypted?
You can check this by going into “This PC” and check if the disk “OSDisk (C:)” has a lock on it. If it looks like the picture below, the encryption is active and you do not have to do anything. If you are unsure if your computer is encrypted, we recommend contacting your local IT-Support.
If your harddrive is locked at startup
If the BitLocker encryption program detects that your AU PC has been changed or that another error has arisen, it will automatically lock your hard disk. You will be greeted by this message when you start your computer and cannot start it up.
To unlock your computer, you must enter a recovery code, which you can find yourself. However, this requires that you have access to a smartphone or another computer until your own is unlocked.
Go to https://myaccount.microsoft.com and log on with your AU ID and password. After login, click ' enheder ' in the left-hand menu to see a list of the units that are linked to your profile.
Here you will get an overview of your units. Select the unit that has been locked and fold it by clicking the arrow to the right. Then click ' View Bitlocker Keys '
You will now see the Bitlocker key you will need to unlock your computer. Click "Show recovery Key" and copy "Key ID".
You can now enter this key on your own computer to unlock it so that you can access it again. The key must have the same form as shown below. If the key does not match, you must contact your local IT support team.
Is my Mac encrypted?
How to check if your Mac is encrypted:
- Go to System Settings
- Choose Privacy and Security
- If FileVault says on the Mac is encrypted
How do I encrypt my Mac?
As a Mac user you may not initiate an encryption yourself. Contact your local IT support team for the encryption to be turned on.