Read-Only Media

[swinnie]

I've recently been working at a computer repair shop and I carry three USB sticks, two for potentially infected machines and one used exclusively for brand new machines.

However, I was dealing with a heavily infected machine and plugged in my memory stick to load ComboFix. ComboFix removed various rootkits and other infections, clearing up the machine a lot. However, upon plugging my stick back into the main machine we use NOD32 picked up a virus on the stick and when I looked at the contents some files had been added. I formatted the stick and copied over the tools from my backup, just to be sure.

Are there any USB Sticks that I can flick a switch for 'read-only'? I was thinking about getting some 4GB SD Cards with read-only switches on them and keeping them in USB Media Card readers? (The self contained 'stick' type.)

Any other suggestions?

I don't really want to mess around with CDs as ComboFix and other tools that I use are updated so regularly.

 

[Tealc]

Yes there are a few but searches only seem to reference US sites. It's just not a feature that people seem to want on a USB stick, or at least it's not a feature that the sellers are using to market products.

The idea you had with the SD cards might be a simpler way of doing things.

Edit:
Typical just as I post this I find one

'Imation 8GB USB 2.0 Swivel Flash Drive' has a write protect switch as well as password protection. OCUK don't stock them though.

 

[darael]

What about using TrueCrypt, and mounting the drive as read-only? I'm sure that can be done.

 

[Dsteviedee]

Imation are the only ones available in the UK at the moment I think.

They do several models with switches.

The other alternative is to use a media card in an adaptor with a switch, not the safest
or best solution though.