Sorry if this is an obvious question … but, does anyone know if it is possible to get an USB drive / pen drive / memory stick that is password protected / enctrypted, i.e. you cannot access the content of the drive at all without first entering a password? I know you can do this with Excel documents, but could do with a small portable drive that could do that for all the contents. Price not a major issue for the right product that is reliable (preferably a first-hand recommendation).

I don’t carry majorly sensitive documents about, but as it’s info for my PhD, I want to keep it secure (I do back things up as well!) and away from prying eyes!

Thanks in advance 🙂

Google is your friend…

Agreed, but personal recommendation always appreciated. Not all IT stuff is user-friendly …

I use a SanDisk cruzer USB stick, security software built in.

True crypt is free and will allow 2 levels of security meaning that when they start on you with the pliers and the blowtorch you can give in and let them into your supposedly secret info while still keeping your hamster porn safe.

try using Acrobat. It allows you to embed documents in a pdf, in their original format, but without altering aspects of the file. You can create password encryption at 128bit and 1024bit. This means you could upload the file to an ftp site without it being compromised.

TrueCrypt +1

http://www.lifehacker.com/154465/on+the+fly-encryption-for-your-usb-flash-drive

we use these at work

we use these at work

I use Ironkey. Look rather funky to boot…

+1 for ironkeys, very high level of protection against technical and physical attack

Thanks for the suggestions – I’ll look into all of these, but I do like the look of the Ironkey!

Ironkey’s are OK SafeStick is a better product IMO.

Any votes for the Victorinox? I like the idea of fingerprint recognition!

I use a SanDisk cruzer USB stick, security software built in.

NHS – this is all we’re allowed to use at work. Doddle to use, but forget the password and it needs reformatting

I like the idea of fingerprint recognition!

Our laptops use this. One of the tech guys liked to do a spot of rock climbing. He regulalrly couldn’t get the fingerprint recognition to work after he’d been climbing

Good point – I do rock-climbing too! Thanks!!!

I love truecript it makes me think of James bond and Gary glitter all rolled into one.

we have safe sticks at work

they’re ****

Truecrypt.

Anyone with a SanDisk Cruzer USB stick purchased before February this year that hasn’t been patched or a Kingston Data traveller is walking round with a fairly easy to hack device.

http://www.darkreading.com/insider-threat/167801100/security/encryption/222200174/index.html

I’ve watched the crack being carried out, it’s what we in the security game refer to as ‘trivial’ once you know how to do it.

Sorry but doesn’t that ironkey scream torture me I’ve got loads of secret stuff on a my drive!

And as for fingerprint recognition has no one ever seen demolition man, ok so having your finger cut off with bolt croppers may not be as bad as having your eyeball on a stick but it’s a pretty close second.

I would get the Ironkey one if you can, they have impressed me so far.
Our customers use SDMS ones; http://www.sdms.uk.com/ , not sure you’ll be able to get them as a consumer?

Truecrypt.

Free, works with anything, doesn’t require ‘special’ USB keys.

As USB is now known to be the work of the devil, you’re all going to hell.

If you insist on using this tool of Satan, then you could try storing everything in a zip file, and putting a password on that. Don’t think you can encrypt it though, and it’s probably easy to hack if you know how.

hahaha – zip passwords are a piece of pish to get into, there’s loads of software on the web that will do it.