Flash drive – a convenient way to store information. We store a whole lot of information on the flash drive: personal photos and videos, office documents, useful utilities and many more. But there is one drawback: the flash drive has a size smaller than our day to day pen and is very easy to lose. And when we lose it, all of those important information might go to the wrong hands, those who will mismanage our vital information or even use it against us in some circumstances. Therefore, there is a need to protect the flash drive to be on a safe side.
Protecting of access to information by password
We can provide protection for USB flash drive in two ways. The first option – is to use the windows built-in program Bitlocker. It is available to users of Windows 7, 8. Bitlocker application developers used a simple interface. The program encrypts the information in a logical drive or a flash drive. Using Bitlocker can not set a password on a folder in the drive but it protects the drive itself.
The second method used to protect personal files third-party software. This software much. A set of software features help restrict access to both the media and to a separate folder on the USB flash drive or logical drive.
Protect flash drives in Windows
If a PC is running on Windows 7 Ultimate, Enterprise, or Windows 8 and above, the user can use the built-in data encryption application Bitlocker.
Step by step guide to protect information on a flash drive using Bitlocker:
- Connect a USB flash drive to your computer.
- Open the folder “My Computer” and right click on the icon of the flash stick.
- Select Bitlocker from the rightlick menu.
- In the new window, click the “Use password to unlock the stick.”come up with a secure password and enter it in the proposed window. Click “Next” button.
- In the next step, the program offers to create a special Bitlocker key. It will help restore access to the information if the user forgets to suddenly create a password. This key is should be printed or stored on a local disk.
- Choose which part of the drive you want to subject to protection. If the data is important, it is best to choose a complete encryption.
- Wait for the end of the encryption information and click the button “Close”.
- Check the installation of protection. Withdraw and insert the USB flash drive. In the folder “My Computer” icon near the flash drive icon should appear a “lock”. It means that the protection is installed and access to the data only by password.
Free softwares for Flash Drive data protection
The below Three popular programs are free, and they will help protect personal data and important information.
TrueCrypt
TrueCrypt program takes first place in popularity among users. It is reliable. The complex interface – the main drawback of the program. In order to understand the intricacies of TrueCrypt, one will have to spend some time understanding it. The program can encrypt a folder on the flash drive or logical drive entirely.
Rohos Mini Drive
Developers Rohos Mini Drive sought to create a functional application of small size, and they did it. Free version of the program does not require administrator rights, but it can not encrypt a USB flash drive with a volume of more than 2 Gb. Rohos Mini Drive creates a hidden sector of up to 2 gigabytes. To access the information posted there you need a password. The program uses a robust AES encryption algorithm with 256-bit key.
Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) – a symmetric block encryption algorithm (block size of 128 bits, the key bits 128/192/256). The United States government adopted it as a standard encryption.
Download Rohos Mini Drive Here
MyFolder
MyFolder program comes with a clear menu. It helps protect a folder on your local disk or on a USB drive. To open this folder, you must enter your password. MyFolder encrypts at high speed, but uses the unstable algorithm Blowfish. Also, the program does not run under 64-bit operating system.
Blowfish – cryptographic algorithm implements symmetric encryption block variable-length key. Designed by Bruce Schneier in 1993.
Set a password on a folder
In some cases, there is a need to set a password on a folder of files on a flash drive. Easy and quick to help protect personal information special data.
One Anvide Lock Folder. This Software has the advantages of:
- program is small in volume;
- it does not require a PC;
- reliable protection of sensitive data on any media;
- setting different passwords for multiple folders.
After downloading Anvide Lock Folder is ready for use. The interface is simple and intuitive. In the program you specify a folder on the flash drive or PC and click the button marked with a closed padlock. Enter your password and folder recovery record. It can be accessed through the program. Himself Anvide Lock Folder can be protected by an additional password.
Set a password on a USB flash drive without software
Manufacturers offer a Flash-drives that uses hardware data protection. To use the encrypted data from the manufacturer, you should activate it when you first use. On a USB flash drive password is set. It should contain letters, numbers and special characters.
Password longer than 8 characters is considered good. Do not forget it. Restore access or change the secret word is not possible in 99% of cases. Without the secret word someUSB flash drives might even fail to format.
Ways to restore access to the flash drive
What if you forget your password? On the Internet, there are hundreds of programs that can be used to restore access to a protected USB-drive, but their effectiveness is questionable.
The second option: to look for a hacker neighbor that can lift or crack the password.
Note: the use of special software might lead to unpredictable consequences.
The best option is to come up with a good password, which will not be forgotten, or have never been used.
Often, users are using the drive as a memory card MicroSD. They are used in mobile phones, tablets and cameras. Often MicroSD are password protected. It is set in the menu of the electronic gadget. When you reinstall the card to another phone or a camera need a password. If you forget it, to regain access to the flash drive without losing any data to MicroSD is impossible.
Now online stores sells devices called unlocker. They cost about $10-20. With unlocker you can remove protection and format the memory card. The data will be lost forever, but the MicroSD will be ready for future use. If you do not want to buy the device, then contact an authorized service center close to you that offers unlock services.
Keep your private files under lock and key. This applies to the data recorded on the USB-flash drive. Especially easy to lose micro sd flash drive because of its small size. It is rare to unlock a protected Flash Drive without losing data or even worse (damaging the USB-Flash drive).
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