The developer of VeraCrypt, a popular encryption tool, has faced a major setback as Microsoft has terminated his account used to distribute updates. With no explanation given and the potential for boot-up issues looming, users are left in limbo.

Mounir Idrassi, based in Japan, says he has been unable to contact a human at Microsoft despite years of collaboration. His account is essential for signing Windows drivers and bootloaders, leaving many VeraCrypt users vulnerable if the issue isn’t resolved soon.

Responding to TechCrunch, Idrassi stated that Linux and macOS users remain unaffected, but Windows users might encounter issues in late June when Microsoft revokes his certificate authority. The latest version of VeraCrypt for Windows has already seen nearly a million downloads since May 2025.

This incident highlights the power tech giants hold over third-party software distribution. Idrassi warns that without access to his Microsoft account, updates will cease, potentially dooming the future of VeraCrypt.