got a memory stick, want to secure it

unwashed potato!

unwashed potato!

unwashed potato!

Soldato
Joined
12 Feb 2006
Posts
17,672
Location
Surrey
i finally got me a memory stick, the 8gb one from ocuk, to use for school and
i'm a little concerned that i may one day loose it and someone could find all my files etc and i'd be screwed.

so im after some software to really really protect it, so not just password the files but the whole thing making it completely un-usable until the password is entered and no way of getting round it, for instance if someoen finds it they can't just delete everything on the stick and start again with it.

thanks

also i want to put programs like firefox and xampp on it, do i need special version of these or can i simply copy the folder across from pc to stick and they will work?
 
Re. the first question, I've noticed when it's asked on various other sites, Truecrypt is mentioned. In the past I've used DriveCrypt and Truecrypt seems to be the perfect free (open source) alternative.

Basically it makes a container file (of whatever size you like) which you can put what ever you like in, all the encryption is done on-the-fly. Not sure it's exactly what you're looking for, but worth a look.

Website: http://www.truecrypt.org/

Re. the second part, have alook at PortableApps.com for portable Firefox etc.
 
Last edited:
Digital said:
snip...
Click to expand...

thanks for that, the device actually had truecrypt installer on it so i've installed that and added password protection for the whole device, said it will take just over 2 hours :eek: but should be worth it.

thanks for the link, i've downloaded a load of stuff to put on when it's done with the encryption. is there anyway to put ms office on it or is the only portable software openoffice?

how do i get all the bookmarks and extensions i currently use on my firefox onto the memory stick?

[edit]

ok it finally has finished encrypting it but i think i have done something wrong. when it finished it displayed a message which i didn't really understand but was about howit can't be given the letter H which it currently has or something like that. anyway i unplugged the stick plugged it back in and tried to access it via my computer but instead of asking for password which i thought it would it says the device is not formatted and would i like to now. why is it doing this? have i done it compltely wrong and need to start again or am i just missing a small thing out to complete the encryption?

thanks
 
Last edited:
I have never encrypted the entire stick before. Try just creating a container of say 100MB just to familiarise yourself with the software. Once it has created the container you need to mount it to a drive letter using the Truecrypt software so just pick a letter and browse to the container on the usb stick and then click mount, it will then ask for your password.

I don't think MS office is portable.

There are a few programs out there to run apps off portable devices.
- Mojopac (now free)
- Ceedo.
- Portableapps.com (free)
 
Theres apps which have been 'thinstalled' which basically means they run off a standalone .exe so you can run them off usb sticks with out installing anyhting.
googling "portable office 2007" may help
 
Portableapps is the best option in my opinion.

You can get a whole load of programs for it including AbiWord.

Also it might be worth creating a batch file to backup the data automatically from your memory stick onto your computer everytime you plug it in, as I have had my school's network corrupt a coursework file.
 
ok well i am really confused. i tried making a volume using TrueCrypt that is 100mb in size and has the password "hello". i then some reason mounted the volume to i drive firugring that what would happen is now i'd have a "folder" which asks for a password when you try to look into it but it doesn't, it lets me put files in it ike normal without a password.

also not sure how this would then be put onto a usb stick? and how it would then be useable on other pcs?

[edit]

ok i think im starting to understand how this works. so bascially i have created a file which is unreable which stores anything i put into it, however i can't put anything into it without mounting it by using truecrypt which requires a password before it can be mounted. this seems secure but a very long winded way of protecting the information. is there no way i can just assign a password to the usb stick so when its plugged in if the user clicks to view the device a pop up screen asks for a password and wont let the user past until it has it?
 
Last edited:
Mammalian said:
[edit]

ok i think im starting to understand how this works. so bascially i have created a file which is unreable which stores anything i put into it, however i can't put anything into it without mounting it by using truecrypt which requires a password before it can be mounted. this seems secure but a very long winded way of protecting the information. is there no way i can just assign a password to the usb stick so when its plugged in if the user clicks to view the device a pop up screen asks for a password and wont let the user past until it has it?
Click to expand...

It can be a little long winded. There is a way of getting trucypt to work without needing softare. I've never tried it but the documentation outlines it.
 
JonRohan said:
It can be a little long winded. There is a way of getting trucypt to work without needing softare. I've never tried it but the documentation outlines it.
Click to expand...

thanks will look into it. i am starting to come around to the id of it though, seems much more secure then just password protection.

thanks for all the help guys
 
^^ you will still need to use truecrypt, there is a standalone EXE file that you can copy/run so you dont need to install it on a machine. using common sense: if you use a program to encrypt data, surely you need to use that program to decrypt it..

i looked into the possibility of truecrypting my usb stick but i wanted to partition the usb stick (is where im stuck) and make a smaller partition and put the exe file there and to totally encrypt the larger partition so its invisible unless its mounted using truecrypt.

if i do it the other way (TC makes a visible container file with all the data stored within), that file can simply be deleted, but, if you dont know there is an encrypted volume on there, it makes it that bit harder to delete..

:)
 
There is a portable version of office that will run off a USB stick. However i don't think it's an official M$ product.

RE: Bookmarks - if you have your own comp you use at home then i recommend getting googles browser sync. This will keep your book marks upto date where ever you are. eg if your browsing at school with portable firefox and browser sync installed and you add a new book mark when you get home and browse with firefox and browser sync installed that new book mark will appear on your home pc
 
I think there may be an issue here... I remember seeing you wanted to use it for school, IIRC you cannot use Truecrypt on a 'limited' windows account if the Truecrypt software is not installed on the host i.e. you are running it in traveller mode off the stick.
 
skanky said:
^^ you will still need to use truecrypt, there is a standalone EXE file that you can copy/run so you dont need to install it on a machine. using common sense: if you use a program to encrypt data, surely you need to use that program to decrypt it..

i looked into the possibility of truecrypting my usb stick but i wanted to partition the usb stick (is where im stuck) and make a smaller partition and put the exe file there and to totally encrypt the larger partition so its invisible unless its mounted using truecrypt.

if i do it the other way (TC makes a visible container file with all the data stored within), that file can simply be deleted, but, if you dont know there is an encrypted volume on there, it makes it that bit harder to delete..

:)
Click to expand...
What you can do with TrueCrypt, apparently, is to make two partitions. So you have one that you decrypt if you are forced to, by evil burglars etc :p, with some files in there to make them think you've opened it up for them. But in actual fact you can then have another partition, hidden I think, with your actual files in. :)

StuntMonkeh said:
I think there may be an issue here... I remember seeing you wanted to use it for school, IIRC you cannot use Truecrypt on a 'limited' windows account if the Truecrypt software is not installed on the host i.e. you are running it in traveller mode off the stick.
Click to expand...
I've heard this too. If you are at Uni or work somewhere where they lock the PCs down then TrueCrypt might be a bit fiddly to get working.

http://lifehacker.com/software/encryption/geek-to-live--encrypt-your-data-178005.php#c148028
http://lifehacker.com/software/encryption/geek-to-live--encrypt-your-data-178005.php#c148654
 
StuntMonkeh said:
I think there may be an issue here... I remember seeing you wanted to use it for school, IIRC you cannot use Truecrypt on a 'limited' windows account if the Truecrypt software is not installed on the host i.e. you are running it in traveller mode off the stick.
Click to expand...

well atm i am using truecrypt on laptop and pc and neither of them have it installed on the harddrive but are running it off the usb so i just run the .exe and then mount file. is that the problem i can't mount on a limited user account or can i not even run truecrypt at all?
 
Mammalian said:
is that the problem i can't mount on a limited user account or can i not even run truecrypt at all?
Click to expand...

If you try and run Truecrypt off your USB device, ie Truecrypt is not installed on the PC it is plugged into and you are logged into the PC on a limited account then Truecrypt will not load. IIRC it has to load a .sys into the memory and it Windows will not let it.
 
MarcLister said:
What you can do with TrueCrypt, apparently, is to make two partitions. So you have one that you decrypt if you are forced to, by evil burglars etc :p, with some files in there to make them think you've opened it up for them. But in actual fact you can then have another partition, hidden I think, with your actual files in. :)
Click to expand...

bingo, exactly what i want to do, except it doesnt work too well for USB sticks as i cant get windows to recognise a 2nd partition on the stick :/
 
MarcLister said:
Check out http://lifehacker.com/software/encryption/geek-to-live--encrypt-your-data-178005.php#c1064831 and http://lifehacker.com/software/encryption/geek-to-live--encrypt-your-data-178005.php#c839870. See if they help you. :)
Click to expand...

as far as i can see, the first link talks about double compressing a file which is not what i need and the 2nd link is talking about truecrypt creating a volume which again isnt what i'm after.

http://www.lifehacker.com/images/2006/06/truecrypt-vollocation-thumb.jpg

if you look at the above pic, there is an option to select file or device, its easy enough to select a file which creates a big container file to where the encrypted data is stored, but i want to select "device" which doesnt leave a container file anywhere.

file = creates a visible file on the selected drive in which the encrypted data is stored
device = encrypts and hides a entire drive/partition meaning no telltale 10gb container files on my hdd

ignoring truecrypt for a minute, my problem is not being able to partition a usb stick and getting windows to recognise both partitions.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom