Microsoft will be enabling full disk encryption on clean Win 11 installs soonish

A forthcoming version of Windows 11 known as 24H2 will enable Bitlocker device encryption (FDE) by default. This can be turned off if you want to get into Control Panel and deactivate it. The article notes that Tom's Hardware found that FDE can slow down disc access by 45% on solid-state drives. Additionally, Microsoft requires that the encryption key is uploaded to your Microsoft cloud account, meaning they have the means for decrypting your drive.

MS holding the key to your drive is a theoretical vulnerability. I have not read of them cooperating with authorities in the decryption of drives, much like Apple has not, though in Apple's case, they don't hold keys and cannot.

Personally, I don't think disk encryption is a good idea for the average home user. You should maintain good backups and keep them disconnected from your PC, preferably in a fire-proof lockbox or off-site. Have two sets (or more) and rotate between them so you have fall-back points if one of the backup sets fail.

We have a concept in IT that backups don't exist until you test them or need them, until that time they just exist in a void. When you pull them out and try to restore from them, that's when you find out whether or not they're any good. Backup disks and tapes fail, which is why if you value your data you want multiple copies to reduce the chance of one copy failing.

https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/14/24220138/microsoft-bitlocker-device-encryption-windows-11-default

https://tech.slashdot.org/story/24/08/14/1559240/microsoft-is-enabling-bitlocker-device-encryption-by-default-on-windows-11

Disney files to move wrongful death suit to binding arbitration: man had subscribed to Disney+!

*SMH*

This is a tragedy and Disney is making it worse and worse. A man and his wife are at Disneyworld and have dinner at one of their restaurants. The woman, Dr. Kanokporn Tangsuan, had severe dairy and nut allergies. She expressed this problem to their waiter in detailed terms and was told that their kitchen was quite capable of handling this matter.

She died hours later of anaphylaxis. She administered an epi-pen to herself that she kept on-hand, but it wasn't enough. Sounds to me like she was given a standard dish of whatever it was she was having, rather than a custom one made special.

Her husband, Jeffrey Piccolo, is suing on behalf of the estate. And Disney is saying that because he had a trial subscription to Disney+ streaming service for one month, four years prior, that he is bound by said TOS that any legal matters have to be decided in binding arbitration. Likewise, the TOS for the Disney smartphone app has similar binding arbitration clauses.

While it is not referenced in this article, the amount Disney is fighting over? Piccolo was suing for $50,000. Basically to cover funeral costs and such.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/08/disney-fighting-restaurant-death-suit-with-disney-terms-absurd-lawyer-says/