encryption

any opinions on making backups on hardware-encrypted media (including flash) vs regular media w hand-encryption vs. just backing up as is?

i don't exactly want joe stranger to get all my bank acct #s the next time i leave a flash drive at starbucks, but i am actually more paranoid abt mucking up a PW and locking MYSELF out of my files sometime if i try to prevent it.

come to think of it, any thoughts on encrypting the actual files on HDD itself?

i just recently deleted 300 old WP files b/c i couldn't crack the PWs after all these years. mostly junk, but i WOULD like to have had a skim first.

do NOT want to repeat that experience on the rest of my stuff!

EVER.

 

Im not really sure what you are asking here. Everything has its place but without know the context it is difficult to form an opinion. We could do with some more info on what you are trying to do etc.

 

You may find this forum discussion helpful: USB Flash Drive, How to Password Protect USB Flash Drive

 

ok, but i pretty much know HOW to do it, what i'm asking is: is there a consensus here about WHETHER to do it?

horror stories about identity theft vs horror stories of losing your life's work b/c you locked yourself out. that sort of thing.

 

If you don't put your bank acct #s on your flash drive and don't put passwords to your online financial accounts on it, then a stranger will not be able to obtain your account #s. You might put some hints to your passwords on a flash drive but not the actual passwords. And, you don't need to put full acct #s on the flash drive. If want some part of the acct # on it for some reason, then use only the last 4 digits. Seems to me this kind of strategy can alleviate the need to encrypt a flash drive and put a master password on it.