I still remember when floppy disk is so popular during the time that computing comes out as one of the promising technology. Floppy disk is portable and light storage device used to transport data between any computers or to any device that support it. But now USB thumb drive has emerged like floppy disk before, it is use to read and write data between any device that has USB port. A wide variety of USB drive are now in the market and the storage capacity is increasing making it so easy to store any valuable data or files in a single portable device. But one disadvantage of it is that it can be easily be lost because of its size and portability. So how about if you have important and confidential data that are stored and suddenly you lost it ?
For security minded people they use special USB drive with hardware security features to protect their sensitive data, but this USB drive are more expensive than ordinary one. So if you have sensitive data that you wan to protect, I will teach you easy ways to have some level of protection with your device.
There are many FREE software out there but I will feature some of the best.
Lets start with Bitlocker, a powerful " encryption " software by Microsoft Corp.,"built in", in any Windows like Vista Ultimate / Enterprise, Windows 7 Ultimate / Enterprise, Windows 8 Pro / Enterprise versions, so you will use it with no need to install third party software. Encryption simply means converting data into codes so that only authorized one can access or read it..
If your Windows support Bitlocker, just click Start Menu > Computer. Then right click on your USB drive that you want to protect, mine is WXPCORP_EN (H:)
Then think of any password, use combination of lower case/uppercase letters, numbers and special characters, minimum length of 8 characters and up, so it cannot be easily crack.
Then you will be ask to save your recovery key so that when you forgot your password you can still access your drive. Better to print it or save it in a secure location in your drive.
After you save or print it. Then the process will start, it takes time depending on the capacity of your drive. Just wait and try not to interrupt, because you will probably loose your data if you do so.
Your Done..Now test it, safely remove you USB drive and insert it again.You will see something like the image below.
Every time you use your drive it will ask for a password..So for now on your USB drive is protected, you will also do this also on your Hard disk Drive or in any Removable device such memory card etc..
How about If your Windows doesn't have Bitlocker feature. There once a popular Encryption software called TrueCrypt used even by some high security intelligence personnel in the U.S, but now the said tool shutdown its operation for whatever reason. But don't worry will still have other option, featuring Rohos Mini Drive.
You can download it for FREE in their official site..Just clink this link Rohos Mini Drive. This version is only limited to 8GB encryption size only. But it's big enough just for personal use. Just download the tool and the installation is very easy.
The process is easy just like Bitlocker. Just follow the image with 3 easy steps your USB drive is protected.
There are two files that will be added in your USB Drive, so that you can still access your device in any PC.
For example you want to access your drive in another PC (Windows), there is also version of Mac available for Mac users..All you have to do is run Rohos Mini (see image above this text), enter your password, so you'll be able to see your data or files.
( USB Image Source : www.newsoftware.net )
I hope you understand what I'm saying about. If you have questions just leave your comment. Thanks !
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