Which data protection feature is built into Windows to mitigate the threat of data theft?

BitLocker encryption is the built-in data protection feature in Windows designed specifically to mitigate the threat of data theft. It provides full disk encryption, which secures data on the physical drives of a device. By encrypting the entire volume, BitLocker ensures that even if the device is lost or stolen, unauthorized users cannot access the data without the necessary authentication method, such as a password or a key stored on a secure device.

This feature protects sensitive information by rendering the data unreadable without proper decryption keys, thus significantly lowering the risk of data breaches and identity theft as a result of unauthorized access. Additionally, BitLocker integrates with Windows' security features, like TPM (Trusted Platform Module), which enhances its effectiveness.

In contrast, FileVault is an Apple product for Mac OS, Secure Boot prevents unauthorized firmware and OS loading during the boot process but does not encrypt data at rest, and Windows Defender is primarily focused on protecting against malware and viruses rather than encrypting data to protect against theft. Therefore, BitLocker stands out as the dedicated solution for data protection through encryption in the Windows environment.