Security for external hard drive

[TRDCorolla1]

Most external hard drives are accessed via, the USB port. Now if you have some sensitive materials on there (ie. govn files, IRS documents, porn, etc), how would you protect or somehow encrypt the external drive so random people won't be able to plug the USB to their laptops or desktops to access the info? Mine is vulnerable for those who want to sneak in. All they have to do is to hook up any USB cable to it and start transferring files across. Any of you guys know the best software to prevent this from happening? I'm sure a lot of us have external hard drives and concern about the security of it.

 

[TheLastWolf]

Lock it in a box

 

[Rudster8161]

its not practical, you could compress important files into an RAR archive and set up a password, dont know how much stuff is important on there though.

 

[TheLastWolf]

Locking it in a box is safer.

 

[TRDCorolla1]

Ahhahaha, found something!! Even works for Vista too!!! Check it out EVERYONE...

True Crypt
http://www.truecrypt.org/

It's free and it looks like the only thing out there that actually works. You can encrypt any type of external drive including hard drive volumes, USB flash drives, files, etc.

Latest Stable Version - 4.3a
Windows Vista/XP/2000/2003
http://www.truecrypt.org/downloads.php

 

[Brian_Fenner]

Now if you have some sensitive materials on there (ie. govn files, IRS documents, porn, etc), how would you protect or somehow encrypt the external drive..

Hummm.........wonder which one of those items your protecting or maybe hiding?

 

[Neodude1123201]

Hummm.........wonder which one of those items your protecting or maybe hiding?

Lol!

I think true crypt would be the way to go,Although if you want to use the Encrypted file on another computer,would you need true crypt on that computer aswell?

 

[DJ-CHRIS1]

Lol!

I think true crypt would be the way to go,Although if you want to use the Encrypted file on another computer,would you need true crypt on that computer aswell?

Yeah you would, thats the weakness of Truecrypt. Overall a great piece of software though.