How to protect my USB flash drive - Page 2

Solberg · May 30th, 2008, 05:07 PM

Will formatting it to NTFS help?

Viper007Bond · May 30th, 2008, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solberg

Will formatting it to NTFS help?

NTFS supports encryption, yes, but I think it's tied to your Windows account password or whatever. You won't be able to access it from other computers AFAIK.

To the best of my knowledge, you'll have to install apps on the computers.

Solberg · May 30th, 2008, 05:16 PM

I see. So, that means that I can't get any files that are bigger than 4 GB on it either right?

chaos386 · May 30th, 2008, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solberg

I downloaded it but didn't install it. It seems annoying as from what I understand you need to install the program on every computer you want to plug your storage device into.

No, Truecrypt has a "portable mode", so you don't have to install it to use it. You just keep a copy of the program (unencrypted) on the flash drive and run it directly from there. The only catch is that you need administrator privileges in order to run it.

epp_b · May 30th, 2008, 05:47 PM

Quote:

I downloaded it but didn't install it. It seems annoying as from what I understand you need to install the program on every computer you want to plug your storage device into.

Yes and no, actually. What, did you expect it to just work without the software? BTW, you can carry the program around on a USB drive and launch it on any computer.

petarkb · May 30th, 2008, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gti138

We run (and disallow everything else) USB sticks with biometric scanners built in...

If your fingerprint doesn't match then you don't get access.. simple really images/smilies/smile.gif

Har har. Those are perfectly crackable:

http://www.heise-online.co.uk/securi...eatures/110280

matt2000 · May 30th, 2008, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fbc

Encrypt the data using this:

http://pic.phyrefile.com/a/an/anonymous/2008/05/30/enigma-machine.jpg

As long as the Allies don't get hold of it, you'll be right.

I know, I'm not helping, I'll show myself out.

I saw that exact machine at Bletchley Park last year, still works too. images/smilies/smile.gif

I have no useful suggestions for encryption though.

The Chad · May 31st, 2008, 05:44 AM

If you want good encryption, TrueCrypt is the way to go.

BUT, if this data is super-duper-Cold War important...

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/security/99f1/

The IronKey is the only way to go.

Quote:

Passwords can be hacked, but not the IronKey. It's built to withstand attacks both virtual and physical. 10 incorrect password attempts, and the encryption chip self-destructs, making the contents of the flash drive totally unreadable. The contents of the drive are filled with epoxy, so if a hacker tries to physically access the chips, he'd more likely damage them instead. Even if he did get access to the memory chips, they'd be worthless without the encryption chip. Electron-shielded, even a scanning electron microscope can't get inside.

SirSmash · May 31st, 2008, 06:42 AM

Truecrypt works very well, just use the portable mode so you have the software with you.

But one very important thing... backup your volume headers. (it's under tools) If you don't and something happens to your drive sectors you will be totally screwed. I had that happen to the point where my regular encryption was readable but it also had a hidden part that could no longer be read. I had a backup of the important files but everything else was lost and I couldn't restore the volume headers to fix the problem.

Buba · May 31st, 2008, 08:51 AM

In case your Data isn't hyper important: Just use a self extracting winrar archive with a long password...

Viper007Bond · May 31st, 2008, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buba

In case your Data isn't hyper important: Just use a self extracting winrar archive with a long password...

That requires WinRAR to be installed on all the PCs and is a pain if you need to add/update data.

chaos386 · May 31st, 2008, 02:38 PM

Plus, Truecrypt is a lot faster. I get about 40~60 MB/s using 256-bit AES encryption (drive limited, pretty much) on my single-core A64 3800+, so for pretty much any modern computer, your read/write speeds aren't going to noticeably change compared to no encryption.

Whappeh · May 31st, 2008, 07:22 PM

Put it in a charger and store it in your anus until its time to take it off the drive.

May 30th, 2008, 05:07 PM	#21
Solberg Joined: Apr 24th, 2008 Last Online: 12:01 AM Posts: 1,161 Rep Power: 23	Will formatting it to NTFS help? __________________

May 30th, 2008, 05:16 PM	#23
Solberg Joined: Apr 24th, 2008 Last Online: 12:01 AM Posts: 1,161 Rep Power: 23	I see. So, that means that I can't get any files that are bigger than 4 GB on it either right? __________________

May 31st, 2008, 08:51 AM	#30
Buba Wants Rick Astley's Babies Joined: Nov 12th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Regensburg, Bavaria Age: 27 Posts: 6,028 Car: Golf LFS Status: Rep Power: 40	In case your Data isn't hyper important: Just use a self extracting winrar archive with a long password... __________________ [18:11] MXM: it means buba is better than you now [18:12] sam-l: In what way? [18:12] Slycer: longer penis

May 31st, 2008, 02:38 PM	#32
chaos386 .sa = bad driver! Joined: Nov 8th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia Age: 22 Posts: 3,564 LFS Status: Rep Power: 62	Plus, Truecrypt is a lot faster. I get about 40~60 MB/s using 256-bit AES encryption (drive limited, pretty much) on my single-core A64 3800+, so for pretty much any modern computer, your read/write speeds aren't going to noticeably change compared to no encryption. __________________ "Shit, that's a busy table cloth." -matt2000

May 31st, 2008, 07:22 PM	#33
Whappeh Joined: Aug 21st, 2006 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Orlando, FL Age: 22 Posts: 778 Car: 05 Mazda RX8 Rep Power: 38	Put it in a charger and store it in your anus until its time to take it off the drive. __________________ Baseball is right around the corner! Go White Sox

May 31st, 2008, 06:42 AM	#29
SirSmash Joined: May 20th, 2008 Last Online: January 6th, 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA Age: 22 Posts: 69 Car: Porsche 944 Turbo Rep Power: 4	Truecrypt works very well, just use the portable mode so you have the software with you. But one very important thing... backup your volume headers. (it's under tools) If you don't and something happens to your drive sectors you will be totally screwed. I had that happen to the point where my regular encryption was readable but it also had a hidden part that could no longer be read. I had a backup of the important files but everything else was lost and I couldn't restore the volume headers to fix the problem.

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