Hi.

I was hoping someone could help me technically.

When I travel I like to go paperless, so I store information such as copy of passport, airline tickets, internet favourites, travel insurance documents, instructions, contacts, hotel reservations, bank hotlines, embassy details etc into a small memory stick.

What I do is to save all the documents into a folder and then transfer a copy of this folder into the memory stick.

Unfortunately if I lose this device I may end up with a security problem.

Is there a simple way of creating a folder with PIN access?

Atleast then my data has a level of security.

If not is there another way of economically protecting the data?

cheers.

R

Hi.

I was hoping someone could help me technically.

When I travel I like to go paperless, so I store information such as copy of passport, airline tickets, internet favourites, travel insurance documents, instructions, contacts, hotel reservations, bank hotlines, embassy details etc into a small memory stick.

What I do is to save all the documents into a folder and then transfer a copy of this folder into the memory stick.

Unfortunately if I lose this device I may end up with a security problem.

Is there a simple way of creating a folder with PIN access?

Atleast then my data has a level of security.

If not is there another way of economically protecting the data?

cheers.

R

Have a look at TrueCrypt (free encryption software):

http://www.truecrypt.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TrueCrypt

Edited November 11, 200817 yr by Goyave

Truecrypt is best but requires admin priviliges to use. Two others that don't are

http://www.cypherix.com/cryptainerle/ and

http://www.private-disk.net/

You're an Identity theives dream.

I'd suggest either the Truecrypt route or if you want to spend the money get yourself an IronKey

Truecrypt is best but requires admin priviliges to use. Two others that don't are

http://www.cypherix.com/cryptainerle/ and

http://www.private-disk.net/

You could use something like winrar or winzip and put a password on the zipped/archived file.

I believe both are free to use for a trial period and windows xp etc can open zip files

without any need for software.

You could use something like winrar or winzip and put a password on the zipped/archived file.

I believe both are free to use for a trial period and windows xp etc can open zip files

without any need for software.

Just easy to "crack"!

I would use a crypting software for to be on the safe side.

Cheers.

I used to have a memmory stick, can't remember the name now, that came with a security function. You could allocate an amount of disk space only accesable with password and this secret section would not be visible by just pluging the stick in.

If you put some non important info on the non secret section someone using your stick would only see that section and not even realise that there was a secret section also.

BC

With any stick although Ironkey has hardware encryption you essentially want to ensure that no passwords are left in memory of the computer it's plugged into. Ironkey has a self destruct feature that's similar to the current iphone feature whereby if you select it it will erase it's contents when the pin has been entered incorrectly 10 times. Ironkey has some other benefits but some of those require subscription.

I used to have a memmory stick, can't remember the name now, that came with a security function. You could allocate an amount of disk space only accesable with password and this secret section would not be visible by just pluging the stick in.

If you put some non important info on the non secret section someone using your stick would only see that section and not even realise that there was a secret section also.

BC

When I bought a Kingston 2GB stick the other day for 149baht it came with SecureTraveler software and manual on the stick that is reportedly uncrackable(!!)... . I also have the stick on my key ring since I never loose my keys and would be really pissed if I ever did... USB sticks on their own go missing easily as they are so small.

uncrackable- sounds like a challenge!

Its illegal to use uncrackable encryption- and by uncrackable- we mean encryption that would take many months to decrypt the hard ways.

Edited November 19, 200817 yr by OxfordWill

I'm pretty sure this one is legal... and, my mistake, crackable too... with a small to medium sized hammer.

Its illegal to use uncrackable encryption-...

In which duristiction?

duristiction?

is that an encrypted spelling ?

uncrackable- sounds like a challenge!

Its illegal to use uncrackable encryption- and by uncrackable- we mean encryption that would take many months to decrypt the hard ways.

That's why TrueCrypt gives you what they call "Plausible Deniability" - you can give one password to anyone who demands it, but the real secret stuff is still undetectable in a hidden volume.

truecrypt

download the compressed files , extract them to your USB device - run truecrypt.exe

create a file container ( I just call mine data ) and set the size to basically the full size of your drive - check gigabytes and shave the leftover numbers off the size displayed.

then you select a password or phrase and let it sort out the encrypting of the file container ( took 5 hours on a 500gig USB drive )

when you want to use it you plug it in , go to the drive and run truecrypt , select mount and enter your password and the data container will show up in your my computer as a drive - just use it like a normal drive as encryption and decryption will happen on the fly and the lag is minimal.

when you have finished , just dismount the drive via truecrypt and eject the USB connection.

remember that if you are using a net cafe computer it is untrusted and if it has a keylogger installed it will record the password you type in anyway.

Stop all this foolishness

Send the file to yourself as an attachment via email. If you have a web based email account (gmail,hotmail,yahoo, etc.) you will always have access to it from any computer.

Safe, simple and you already have the password.

...let it sort out the encrypting of the file container ( took 5 hours on a 500gig USB drive )...

Thanks for the time scale. I have a couple of 500 GB USB drives and was wondering how long it would take.