Navigating the Cloud: A Washington Law Firm’s Guide

Navigating the Cloud: A Washington State Law Firm’s Guide to WSBA Advisory Opinion 2215

The legal industry is rapidly transitioning to cloud-hosted services for document storage, practice management, and client communication. The benefits are clear: reduced IT costs, enhanced collaboration, and the ability to work from anywhere. But for Washington lawyers, this digital shift brings up a critical ethical question: Is it safe, and is it compliant?

Create a Secure, Password-Protected "File Vault" in Windows 11

 

Create a Secure, Password-Protected "File Vault": Windows 11 Pro & Enterprise

Are you looking for a way to keep your sensitive files hidden from prying eyes? Whether it's financial documents, personal photos, or top-secret projects, sometimes you just need a locked folder.

If you are running Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise, you are in luck! You don't need to download any sketchy third-party software. Instead, you can use built-in Windows tools to create a BitLocker-encrypted Virtual Hard Disk (VHDX).

Think of this as a secure digital "file vault" that lives on your computer. When you need it, you enter a password to open it. When you're done, you lock it up, and your files completely disappear from view.

Here's exactly how to set it all up!

Apple Phasing Out Network-Based Time Capsule, Time Machine Backups

The End of an Era:
Apple is Phasing Out Network-Based Time Capsule, Time Machine Backups

Apple is making a decisive shift in how macOS handles backups, and it’s a move that’s leaving many longtime users of Time Capsule and AirPort hardware with tough decisions. With the introduction of macOS 27, Apple will officially drop support for Time Machine backups over network-connected Time Capsule disks.
https://9to5mac.com/2025/06/10/time-machine-backup-macos/

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/256112267

https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/06/10/time-machines-time-capsule-support-ends-with-macos-27

Maximize Your Digital Privacy

 

How to Maximize Your Digital Privacy in Today's Connected World

In recent months, I've noticed a surge in customer inquiries about online privacy and data security. Questions like "How can I keep my online accounts more secure?" and "I want to browse the internet as anonymously as possible; how do I do that?" have become increasingly common. The growing concern about personal data removal from the internet reflects our collective awakening to digital privacy risks.

This comprehensive guide covers the fundamentals of online privacy, practical steps to enhance your digital security, and methods for removing personal information from the internet.

Find Your Microsoft BitLocker Recovery Key

So your Windows Computer just recently completed some Windows Updates, or maybe you changed some system settings. But NOW all of a sudden, your Windows computer is asking for a "BitLocker Recovery key" to be able to start your computer!
But you have no idea what BitLocker is, what BitLocker does, nor do you know what to do!

"BitLocker Drive Encryption is a data protection feature that integrates with the Windows operating system and addresses the threats of data theft or exposure from lost, stolen, or inappropriately decommissioned computers."

Which is all fine and dandy if you purposefully set it up, and saved the recovery key information. The BitLocker disk encryption keeps your data safe in the event your computer is lost or stolen. But, more often than not, folks don't even realize that BitLocker is even turned on, and thusly do NOT have any recovery methods ready to go if they were to get locked out!

If your system is asking you for your BitLocker recovery key, the following information may help you locate your recovery key. 

There are several places where your recovery key may be, depending on the choice that was made when activating BitLocker.  If you purposefully turned on BitLocker hard drive encryption, you may have printed out the security key that was created.   Or you may have saved that BitLocker Recovery key information to a USB thumb drive and thusly created a "Recovery USB Key". If so, just use the appropriate recovery method that you have created/saved, to get back into your system!

If you don't have any kind of Recovery Key information backed up or saved, the easiest way to find your BitLocker recovery key is through the Microsoft account you were using on that computer! Your Microsoft account is typically tied to your everyday email address, plus a password that was set up.

So all you need to do is use another computer or a tablet, or even your cell phone, and sign in to your Microsoft account to find your recovery key. This is the most likely place to find your recovery key! 

You can do this by visiting, https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey

If you are NOT able to find any sort of recovery key, you would be looking at having to reinstall the Windows Operating System to get the system functional again. But, since the hard drive is encrypted, data backup nor data recovery would be possible.

If we can be of any assistance with this type of problem or issue, please don't hesitate to reach out!

Pacific NW Computers

www.linktr.ee/pnwcomputers

www.pacificnwcomputers.com