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The maker of popular file encryption software VeraCrypt says Microsoft has blocked access to the account it used to send updates to Windows users, warning that anyone who encrypts their PCs with its software could soon face problems accessing their computers.
VeraCrypt developer Mounir Idrassi said internet post on March 30 that Microsoft “terminated the account that I have used for years to sign Windows drivers and bootloaders,” and said that they did not find any reason or possibility to appeal the decision.
Japan’s Idrassi said he tried to contact Microsoft, but was unable to reach a person. Because Microsoft requires developer accounts like its own to further ensure the security of their software, Idrassi said many devices that use VeraCrypt will soon be unable to start if the problem is not resolved.
A Microsoft spokesperson did not immediately respond when reached by TechCrunch.
VeraCrypt is a widely used, open-source encryption program that allows users to encrypt files on their computers with password-protected encryption, or to encrypt their entire operating system and data before the user starts it. The latest version of VeraCrypt software for Windows users, published in May 2025shows the installation file of the software almost a million downloads since its release.
The situation shows how technology companies still have a lot of power over the software distributed on their platforms, and the risk that users face when they rely on someone else to maintain an account, which can be terminated under rules that can change at any time.
In Idrassi’s case, he said that he can push new updates to Linux and macOS users without fail, but most of the users running Windows will not receive the update.
“For affected users, there is nothing special to do at this time as VeraCrypt will continue to work, and no security issues have been identified yet,” he told TechCrunch on Wednesday.
Idrassi warned that users who have enabled system encryption, which prevents all operating systems from logging in unless the user has a password, may experience initial problems with their computers from several months, around. at the end of June.
He also said that Microsoft will soon remove the certificate authority used to sign its VeraCrypt software, a process developers go through to prevent hackers from damaging their software.
“Users who have enabled machine encryption with VeraCrypt may face boot problems after July 2026 because Microsoft will remove the (certificate authority) that was used to sign the VeraCrypt bootloader,” said Idrassi. “The new Microsoft CA must be used for the bootloaders to continue working.”
Without access to the Microsoft account used to send software updates, “I cannot add a new signature to VeraCrypt, which makes it impossible to activate.”
“If this issue is not resolved by then, then VeraCrypt will be killed,” Idrassi told TechCrunch.
This is just the latest example of companies taking away online accounts. Earlier this year, programmer Paris Buttfield-Addison was they are locked out of their Apple account after redeeming what they believed to be a fraudulent card sold to them by a large retailer.
Buttfield-Addison was able to get their account reinstated after news of their account suspension spread.
