Folder protection on USB hard drives

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Aloha

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Topic # 6442 25-Jan-2006 15:50

Hi,

Probably many of you have USB external hard drive like me.
Question: How do you protect it?
If you loose it, someone just plug in and can access your folders.

I googled it and it came up with many software options. Do you have a favourite one?
Could you recommend me a reliable one?

I is a kollege stoodent. Bee nice.

Jama

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Uber Geek

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Reply # 27146 25-Jan-2006 16:03

I have a Kingston USB which comes with 'Traveler Safe+' software. You create a partition which can only be accessed with a password.

I really have no idea how secure it actually is though.

cokemaster

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Reply # 27147 25-Jan-2006 16:03

I use writeable disk images in Mac OS X with AES-128 encription. I also use Filevault on my Powerbook for security reasons which works the same way.

No password/key, no access.

NTFS supports file encription but haven't really played around with it.

One way is to put files in passworded ZIP and RAR files but its often weak - there are automated tools out there to break those.

There are alternatives though.

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Aloha

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Ultimate Geek

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Reply # 27155 25-Jan-2006 16:28

My question is more software related. Which one?

If you put folder password protection into Google it will come up with minimum 4-5 different webpages on the top of the list.
If you check them you will find almost the same software but from different developers.
And each of them costs the same: 39.95USD

How much are they reliable? Does anyone have any experience with those softwares?

I is a kollege stoodent. Bee nice.

freitasm

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Reply # 27157 25-Jan-2006 16:31

You can use a PGP Disk of course?

But why not use NTFS Encryption, native on Windows OS? Of course you have to be serious about keeping the keys in a safe location - the same as PGP anyway.

I assume this is on Windows, not on your new Mac OS laptop, right?

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Aloha

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Ultimate Geek

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Reply # 27161 25-Jan-2006 16:57

Yeah it's under windows on my IBM T41.

And the folder I would like to protect is on my external USB hard drive (WD Passport)

Btw Mauricio, obrigado para as canetas! :-)

I is a kollege stoodent. Bee nice.

Aloha

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Ultimate Geek

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Reply # 27162 25-Jan-2006 17:13

What do you think about this one?

Click here

Would you give a try?

I tried and the USB trial version works fine. I can connect my USB driver to any PC and the folder still remain password protected.

I is a kollege stoodent. Bee nice.

freitasm

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Reply # 27165 25-Jan-2006 17:31

Yes, why not? It looks ok, and even if it's not super-encryption stuff (as a PGP Disk would be), it probably is more portable than PGP (which requires the software installed on the PC reading the disc), while still strong enough to deter the less determined person trying to see the contents of this disc.

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