Comments on: How to Encrypt Any USB Thumb Drive http://askabouttech.com/how-to-encrypt-any-usb-thumb-drive/ Easy and Simple Instructions for Tech Newbies Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:34:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bill http://askabouttech.com/how-to-encrypt-any-usb-thumb-drive/comment-page-1/#comment-4632 Bill Sat, 11 Dec 2010 02:16:08 +0000 http://askabouttech.com/?p=1000#comment-4632 Couple of things: 1. With this system you must have TrueCrypt installed on the computer you're going to use, and you must have administrator privileges for that machine. With the entire disc encrypted, there is no way to keep the encryption software on the thumb drive itself. 2. TrueCrypt fills the entire drive with nonsense data. It is impossible to tell how much data is on the drive. It therefore allows you to encrypt sensitive data in a hidden file with one password, and a "decoy" file with, say, a journal on it, that can be given up if required. No one can tell that there's anything else on the file. 3. For "onboard" on-the-fly encryption, Kingston, Corsair and Iron Key make drives with built-in hardware encryption. All three allow you to password protect the drive with 256-bit encryption. However you cannot use the hidden file trick. I just purchased an 8 GB Kingston (DTVP/8GB) on Amazon for $61.50. This may seem like a lot, but it all depends on how secure you want your stuff. On these drives, 10 wrong attempts to use the password will wipe the drive securely, and that's the end of that. Couple of things:
1. With this system you must have TrueCrypt installed on the computer you’re going to use, and you must have administrator privileges for that machine. With the entire disc encrypted, there is no way to keep the encryption software on the thumb drive itself.
2. TrueCrypt fills the entire drive with nonsense data. It is impossible to tell how much data is on the drive. It therefore allows you to encrypt sensitive data in a hidden file with one password, and a “decoy” file with, say, a journal on it, that can be given up if required. No one can tell that there’s anything else on the file.
3. For “onboard” on-the-fly encryption, Kingston, Corsair and Iron Key make drives with built-in hardware encryption. All three allow you to password protect the drive with 256-bit encryption. However you cannot use the hidden file trick. I just purchased an 8 GB Kingston (DTVP/8GB) on Amazon for $61.50. This may seem like a lot, but it all depends on how secure you want your stuff. On these drives, 10 wrong attempts to use the password will wipe the drive securely, and that’s the end of that.

]]> By: David http://askabouttech.com/how-to-encrypt-any-usb-thumb-drive/comment-page-1/#comment-4089 David Wed, 01 Sep 2010 02:39:11 +0000 http://askabouttech.com/?p=1000#comment-4089 Did not work for me. Followed the instructions more than once, no luck. Bunch of things / choices at the end that weren't covered in the instructions-I had no clue. Thanks for trying, David Did not work for me. Followed the instructions more than once, no luck. Bunch of things / choices at the end that weren’t covered in the instructions-I had no clue.
Thanks for trying,

David

]]> By: How to Encrypt Any USB Thumb Drive Part 2 at Ask About Tech http://askabouttech.com/how-to-encrypt-any-usb-thumb-drive/comment-page-1/#comment-1497 How to Encrypt Any USB Thumb Drive Part 2 at Ask About Tech Tue, 05 May 2009 16:18:00 +0000 http://askabouttech.com/?p=1000#comment-1497 [...] How to Encrypt Any USB Thumb Drive | [...] [...] How to Encrypt Any USB Thumb Drive | [...]

]]> By: Ahron http://askabouttech.com/how-to-encrypt-any-usb-thumb-drive/comment-page-1/#comment-1496 Ahron Tue, 05 May 2009 12:28:36 +0000 http://askabouttech.com/?p=1000#comment-1496 Great tips! I simply use a USB drive that I trust, I believe that in order to really backup and encrypt your files you should also think of the consequences of others finding the external <a href="http://www.sandisk.com/enterprise/" rel="nofollow">encrypted USB drive</a>. but I have learned a few new things. thx Great tips! I simply use a USB drive that I trust, I believe that in order to really backup and encrypt your files you should also think of the consequences of others finding the external encrypted USB drive. but I have learned a few new things. thx

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