| Even the biggest USB flash drive is still smaller than | | | | some of them only perform this encryption in software |
| most people's thumbs. Since we carry these devices | | | | that results in lower performance on the drive when |
| to numerous locations, there is a fairly good chance | | | | encryption is enabled. Few manufacturers use a |
| that we will eventually lose them. If this should happen, | | | | hardware based engine capable of encrypting and |
| most of us simply hope there was nothing sensitive on | | | | decrypting files at a higher speed to prevent |
| the drive. However, that is not the only thing you can | | | | performance penalties when you access a secure |
| do. There are some basic USB flash drive security | | | | partition that's using encryption. |
| measures available. | | | | The problem with both of these security approaches is |
| If your flash drive carries some sensitive information | | | | that they are mostly dependent on software; the |
| that you hope to keep from ending up online by the | | | | majority of manufacturers of USB flash drives only |
| next day, security measures available range from | | | | provide Windows based software support. |
| secure partitions to encryption options. Secure | | | | What does that mean for Macintosh users and people |
| partitions are a rudimentary form of security - a | | | | who use a Linux distribution or other unusual operating |
| password protected partition is created on the drive, | | | | system? Security for USB flash drives is mostly still a |
| using a utility supplied by the manufacturer, this makes | | | | matter of keeping good track of them. While it is |
| a public partition and a secure one. | | | | possible to access public partitions on almost all |
| In most cases, it is not possible to access these | | | | systems, accessing the secure partition generally |
| partitions at the same time, it is often necessary to log | | | | requires access to Windows. |
| into the secure partition, hiding the public one. Not all | | | | USB flash drive security is still in its infancy, since these |
| controllers feature this limitation. Using a version of your | | | | drives aren't routinely used by people with a need to |
| utility, someone else could re-partition the drive. | | | | secure their data. As they become more widespread |
| However, they would not have access to the data | | | | and the need for security increases, expect flash drive |
| you have stored on the secure partition. | | | | security options to increase as well. For now, |
| There are other USB flash drives that are much more | | | | partitioning and encrypting are the major options |
| specialised, they offer the same sort of secure, | | | | available, though. |
| password protected partition. However, they also | | | | Windows users are in luck and can make use of both |
| encrypt data stored on that partition, making it much | | | | of these options effectively to preserve their data. |
| harder for people to get to your data. While encryption | | | | However, users of operating systems that aren't |
| algorithms can be broken, having encryption on your | | | | compatible with the software on the drive must simply |
| USB drive is an extra layer of security you can offer | | | | try not to let their USB flash drives fall into the wrong |
| your data. | | | | hands. |
| The down side to drives that use encryption is that | | | | |