Topic: Portable and secure storage.

[jonesy]

I would like to have a usb memory stick which has a secure/encrypted facility. What is the best way to do this?  Is it best to buy a secure memory stick such as one of these types or is it easy enough to buy a normal memory stick and encrypt it... and if so, how/what do you do

Many thanks for the advice.
T

[mjfarrell]

http://www.google.co.za/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=encrypint%20files%20on%20usb&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDEQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.esecurityplanet.com%2Fviews%2Farticle.php%2F3880616%2FHow-to-Encrypt-a-USB-Flash-Drive.htm&ei=ZzOOUK2GAYSxhAfh04DQBg&usg=AFQjCNHaHdwaREOh0ZbISCfktPpq48Yhmw


http://www.google.co.za/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=encrypint%20files%20on%20usb&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&ved=0CDgQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.truecrypt.org%2F&ei=ZzOOUK2GAYSxhAfh04DQBg&usg=AFQjCNH8UXHuTTPFsxxhk9LfQtfx7CG5Pg

[jonesy]

Thanks Michael, I will look into those.  It certainly looks a cheaper way to protect a USB drive than buying a secure one!

[mjfarrell]

Thanks Michael, I will look into those.  It certainly looks a cheaper way to protect a USB drive than buying a secure one!

Even simple stuff like not naming a file something like:

BANK DETAILS

PIN NUMBERS and PASSWORDS

or other far too obvious names can go a long way, even renaming TXT or DOC files to TIF or JPG can slow down the curious

[jonesy]

Thanks Michael.
I am careful with sensitive documents, and am always cautious with naming of them.

I was just looking for a way of securing the whole USB stick in general, so that if someone does find it, it will take a little effort to find the documents that have passwords... or if not that, creating a partition that is secure or hidden, so I can put sensitive documents like that in the hidden/secure partition

[Daniel J. Ellis]

Have you thought about Dropbox?

Means that you don't have to worry about losing your memory stick?

dJE

[jonesy]

Thanks Daniel, but I prefer to be able to access my information wherever I am.  Work is quite restrictive as to what sites I can get to, so I dont really want to be stuck without access to my files.

[jonesy]

Further to this thread... are there any brands of USB Flash drive you would NOT recommend... or any brand you particularly like?

Thanks again

[danallen]

no idea on brands, I just go by best sellers on amazon

my advice is to only consider the USB as temporary storage between locations. keep a separate copy at all times, in case you lose or break USB

[M-dub]

my advice is to only consider the USB as temporary storage between locations. keep a separate copy at all times, in case you lose or break USB

Agreed.  I've had a couple of them go bad on me and if I could tell you what make they were, I would.