BitLocker reportedly auto-locks users' backup drives, causing loss of 3TB of valuable data — Windows automatic disk encryption can permanently lock your drives

BitLocker, the automatic disk encryption feature in Windows, has been reported to auto-lock users' backup drives, resulting in the loss of 3TB of valuable data for one unfortunate user. The encryption, which is now enabled by default in Windows 11, can lead to unexpected issues like drives being permanently locked without the user's knowledge. In this case, the user was unable to retrieve their data even with recovery software due to BitLocker encryption. Additionally, BitLocker's resource-intensive nature can significantly slow down SSD performance by up to 45%. It's crucial for users to be aware of BitLocker's automatic activation and take necessary precautions to avoid data loss.