Encrypting USB flash drives

imme · Feb 17, 2008

I want to be able to encrypt the contents of my USB flash drive, but be able to un-encryypt it anywhere on any system i plug it in to with out having to install software, such as university computers.

I have looked at true crypt for this, but it requires the user to have it installed on the system that you want to use the drive on

RiDE · Feb 17, 2008

IMO the easiest way to do it would be to create a password protected ZIP folder and keep it on the thumbdrive.

louishen · Feb 17, 2008

I use disk utility to create an encrypted disk image on the usb stick. All my sensitive company data goes on the disk image

Determine how big a "folder" you need

Go to Utilities > Disk Utility and create a new disk image (new image button)

Select a size, select 128 encryption and read/write

Once done it will ask you for a password. Mount the disk image and put all your files in in.

When mounting the disk image make sure "add password to keychain" is off, otherwise anybody can open it

RiDE · Feb 17, 2008

louishen said:
I use disk utility to create an encrypted disk image on the usb stick. All my sensitive company data goes on the disk image

Determine how big a "folder" you need

Go to Utilities > Disk Utility and create a new disk image (new image button)

Select a size, select 128 encryption and read/write

Once done it will ask you for a password. Mount the disk image and put all your files in in.

When mounting the disk image make sure "add password to keychain" is off, otherwise anybody can open it

I do the same thing... but the OP is wanting to be able to open it on "ANY" computer (Windows), which is why a password protected .zip would be better suited than a .dmg

Rambaud · Feb 18, 2008

I have a 4Gb USB stick which is formatted FAT32 and includes a Password option - this works on my Macbook and PCs. Presumably Linux too?

hagios1972 · Feb 23, 2008

Rambaud said:
I have a 4Gb USB stick which is formatted FAT32 and includes a Password option - this works on my Macbook and PCs. Presumably Linux too?

How do you put a password to it? Thanks.

Rambaud · Feb 23, 2008

hagios1972 said:
How do you put a password to it? Thanks.

It is done by software built into the Memory stick itself (there are 2 partitions). The password option only works under Windows - although I have not looked recently to see if OS X is now catered for.

Rambaud · Feb 24, 2008

TrueCrypt seems to be a similar - although I have not tried it.

It is meant to work with OS X.

http://www.truecrypt.org/