Need help on locking my USB portable drive.

[MaMister]

Hi all, I just got a usb 80gb portable harddrive not long ago for my work stuff.

I move around alot to show my works to people but I am a careless person too... always leaving things behind.

I am wondering is that any software that can lockup my entire 80gb drive and prompt for password when ever I plug in to a new computer?

I tried a few software in the market but they are either virtual drive (small size) or only lock folder and files only.

Please recommend me a good software.

Thanks.

 

[Jeff7]

Encrypt the drive. That should do the trick.


*Note, I've never tried it, and I'm no expert in NTFS encryption. Do test this on useless data first.....and maybe wait for other suggestions, or else confirmations of this idea.

 

[GrammatonJP]

Make sure you understand windows encryption before using it... once you lose the key, you can almost be certain to lose the data

 

[oynaz]

I vote for encryption as well. There are lots of good software for it. Try in the Software forum.

 

[imported_Phil]

Do not use Windows EFS (Encrypted File System). When you take it to another machine, it will not have the private key required to unencrypt the data. If your hard disk (in your own PC) fails and you have to reload Windows, if you haven't backed up the private key store, you will lose the data, permanently.

 

[corkyg]

You can also carry a USB thumb drive security key. Unless it is plugged in and a correct password given, the drive can't be accessed. There are several of these around. I use a Sony FIU-800 Puppy - with a fingerprint reader or password entry, along with a hidden partition on the key itself.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Phil
Do not use Windows EFS (Encrypted File System). When you take it to another machine, it will not have the private key required to unencrypt the data. If your hard disk (in your own PC) fails and you have to reload Windows, if you haven't backed up the private key store, you will lose the data, permanently.

It's the double-edged sword of Windows EFS.

If he wants to use the drive on another machine, isn't it possible to just export the key (which should be done anyway, to have a backup of it on hand) and then import it on the other PC?
And I bolded the relevant if's in your post - IF the hard drive fails AND IF the private key isn't backed up. That is why if you ever use Windows EFS, you should back up the private key right away, otherwise the data will be safe from absolutely everyone, at least until quantum computers go mainstream. It's said that quantum computers would make today's encryption methods totally useless.

 

[pkme2]

Verrrry interesting. Good to know.