Microsoft is discontinuing the use of the outdated RC4 encryption cipher, which has been a security risk for over 26 years. The decision follows extensive criticism and high-profile breaches, notably the attack on health provider Ascension that compromised millions of patient records. The company will now focus on more secure encryption methods.

Microsoft provided the FBI with recovery keys to unlock laptops in a fraud case involving the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program in Guam. This incident highlights the privacy risks of BitLocker, as recovery keys are stored in Microsoft's cloud and can be accessed by law enforcement. Experts warn about potential security issues if hackers compromise Microsoft's infrastructure.