USB Flash Drive, How to Password Protect USB Flash Drive

[smssoleimani]

I would like to know how to password protect a USB Flash Drive. I know there are programs out there that password protect USB Flash Drives but I would like to know which is the "best" or most recommended. Thank you.

[usafveteran]

I haven't used this but thought I'd mention it in case you want to take a look at their website. It's called Folder Lock.

[smssoleimani]

Its funny you mention that because when I first started searching for programs that is the first one I came across, I don't think it looks to legit, or a program I can trust. I might just follow this depending if someone here gives me feedback on this particular program or recommends a known good program:

http://www.timeatlas.com/mos/Useful_...our_USB_Drive/

Thank you though.

[elbiatcho1]

TrueCrypt

[smssoleimani]

Ill check it out, what do you think of this though: http://www.timeatlas.com/mos/Useful_...our_USB_Drive/

[scott_hayes89]

how do i label websits on the post

[elbiatcho1]

Works similar (TrueCrypt's "traveller" mode is similar to their "mobile"), but there's probably better support and encryption with TrueCrypt (they have an active user forum). TrueCrypt may be a bit more complicated to setup though although their beginner's guide is easy to follow.

[gGrump]

smssoleimani, are you looking for software to ENCRYPT your folders and files, or something to HIDE your folders and files?

I've also been shopping around for new protection options for my usb drive.
I've been using Remora Usb Disk Guard, which encrypts files and folders, and this is probably the app I will continue to use. Very small footprint --- 6 mb & easy on system resources. Easy to use, and uses robust encryption algorithms. I can't access its home page, so I downloaded from portableFreeware.com.

For very fast and easy drag&drop individual file encryption I use Dscrypt, it is only 25kb. The developer has other portable security tools to offer as well.
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~nulif...ezip/freeware/

I've just begun trying out a new app called Toucan from portableApps.com. It is designed to run from a usb, and encrypts folders and files, also does backups and mirrors. It only came out of beta a couple of months ago though, so be warned. Keep an extra backup of your data in unencrypted form, just in case a bug pops out.

I've seen good comments on Axcrypt2Go (open source), but development seems to have stalled with the alpha release in Feb-06. I haven't tested it yet, but soon.

TrueCrypt (open source) is highly praised, but it requires a driver to be installed on the host computer where you are using the usb drive, and of course, that installation requires admin rights. The same circumstances apply to Cryptainer Lite Edition (free) and to Deckart Private Disk Lite (free).

For what it's worth, I did try out Folder Lock a few months back, and had a few problems, and lost one of my test folders to cyberspace, so I set it aside. I see they just issued a new version, maybe they fixed my issues.

I tried out some other freeware "folder hider" apps, and found none that I would trust --- either they were ineffective, or I lost some data.

So in summary, my own over-all experience has been that encryption works for me, hiding folders did not.

[snozzle]

smssoleimani, we BOUGHT $$$ FolderLock $$$ only to find out that it was not secure at all. Folders were accessible without going through the program (gasp!). Plenty more about this major shortcoming elsewhere on the web. Then got on to Truecrypt through Sourceforge. It is free and we have never looked back...

[seldon]

The only secure system to protect data is with encryption. Other system (FAT, hardware control) are easy to crack.
The best encryption is, actually, AES 256 bit.
You should use PenProtect that encrypt data using AES 256. Not only crypt files but also folders! Does not require installation and it is a single file that is inside the USB Flash Drive. There is two type of protection and a special protection that is called total and is against undelete programs. In the site www.penprotect.com you can see everything and take the demo.

Hari

[bigbazza]

Welcome seldon, to Major Geeks.
Thanks for the tip about PenProtect.
Anyone interested should check out the link provided by seldon.

PenProtect is Shareware at USD$19. Free trial available.

Bazza

[Dave_T]

To put my two cents in, I recommend Password Protect USB. It cannot protect all the drive but works well for protecting folders on the USB drive, especially when the program is installed on the USB drive, not the internal drive.

[bigbazza]

Welcome to Major geeks, Dave_T. You are replying to an 11 months old thread. It would also have helped if you had mentioned that Password Protect USB is $39.95 to buy. Bazza
PS: Just noticed that I also replied to the old thread.
Baz

===

Originally Posted by Dave_T

To put my two cents in, I recommend Password Protect USB. It cannot protect all the drive but works well for protecting folders on the USB drive, especially when the program is installed on the USB drive, not the internal drive.

[marlin6549]

I recommend winsesame from aragonsoft you can donwload the soft at http://www.aragonsoft/en/winsesame/
With this soft you will be abble to protect not only your usb drive but all the documents on your pc.

[bigbazza]

Link should be http://www.aragonsoft.com/en/winsesame/

The free version has no time limitation but the maximum size of the folders you can lock with the free version is limited.

Bazza