Mobile Security Tips for Encrypting USB Flash Drives

Flash drives are super convenient for transferring data, but to avoid a mobile security crisis, it's best to encrypt them -- before a mobile worker loses one with sensitive information on it. It may sound complex, but it's an easy process. We show you the simple steps to take for encrypting a USB Flash drive.

USB flash drives are great for transporting files and documents back and forth from the office to home or to a meeting or on a business trip. On the other hand, the small size and ease of mobility also has security risks. Thumb drives are incredibly easy to forget in the USB port and they’re small enough to fall out of -- or be taken from -- your pocket or bag unnoticed.

Because theft or human error is so common, your best defense is to encrypt your USB flash drive. This protects your files and documents in case someone else gets their thumb on it. Encryption might sound technical and complicated, but it is a rather simple concept and process. You can buy drives that come encrypted out-of-the-box, but you’ll pay for it. If you’ve got a few minutes, you can save some money by encrypting any drive yourself.

Choosing the Right Encryption Utility

There are too many encryption utilities out there to list them all. WinEncrypt, My Lockbox, EncryptOnClick are just a few. You’ll probably see the free and open source solution, TrueCrypt, discussed the most. You might even remember our recent how-to series on the TrueCrypt solution.

Unfortunately, TrueCrypt’s portable mode still requires Administrator privileges on the computers you plug the USB drive into. Therefore, this utility isn’t a candidate if you plan to use public workstations, or even your work PC. Isn’t portability the whole idea behind thumb drives?

Read the full story at eSecurity Planet:
How to Encrypt a USB Flash Drive