I encrypted my Windows 10 OS with BitLocker. However, sometimes my computer automatically goes into sleep modes while my files haven’t finished editing and saved to hard disk. In this case, are the files encrypted by BitLocker safe in this mode, what if I use hibernation mode? Will they affect each other?
In words, file is very safe in hibernation mode while not so secure in sleep mode, and BitLocker on your system does not significantly impact hibernation and sleep modes.
When choose to enter hibernation mode with BitLocker enabled, the encrypted data is absolutely secure because BitLocker provides extra security for the hibernate mode. However, while entering sleep modes, as unsaved data remains in RAM, without under the BitLocker protection, there is a serious risk of DMA attacks.
Therefore, Microsoft officially recommends disabling sleep mode when using BitLocker to ensure the maximum security of encrypted data. So, you should stop Windows 10 from going into sleep mode randomly first.
Following, I will introduce the differences of two modes and ways to enable Hibernation mode:
Hibernation mode allows system to save all contents of RAM such as open documents and running programs to the hard drive before entering a low-power state. Therefore, when you resume from hibernation, your previous data is safely restored.
Besides, enabling BitLocker does not influence hibernation mode. The BitLocker encrypted drive remains locked during hibernation. And upon resuming, BitLocker prompts for authentication to unlock the drive and resume normal operation.
Sleep mode, known as standby mode, is a power-saving state that allows your system to quickly resume from where you left off. When laptop in sleep mode, the system saves the current session to memory rather than the hard drive.
It keeps power to the RAM which may contain secret data, such as the BitLocker encryption key. Thus, attackers could directly attack the memory and gain access to the value data through DMA, which put the encrypted data into great danger.
To mitigate the risk of being attack, choose to hibernation mode is more advised, the steps as follows may help you reach hibernation mode faster:
Step 1 Right click the Start button, and then select Power Options > Additional power settings.
Step 2 select "Choose what the power buttons do", and then select "Change settings that are currently unavailable".
Step 3 Tick the checkbox beside Hibernate, and click Save Changes to finish.
Step 4 You can hibernate your computer by selecting Start > Power > Hibernate. Then your laptop is hibernating.
In summary, hibernation mode can coexist with BitLocker, and is regarded as more secure than putting computer to sleep mode. Use hibernate mode instead of sleep mode to keep important data safe.
Of course, when BitLocker is enabled on a computer, it will not only affect the startup speed but also other computer performance.
Lydia
BitLocker is actually a reliable data encryption tool. However, the frequent prompt to enter the BitLocker recovery password is also a very disturbing thing.
Lydia
Generally, when you restart your computer, the process will resume from where it left off.
Benjamin
Yes, BitLocker does have impact on computer performance. However, the impact is minimal.As the Microsoft’s official documentation indicates, the percentage of performance decrease caused by BitLocker is only in single digits.
Lydia
