Data Travelling has become a normal routine in anyone’s digital life because the advent of USB. The ease provided by USB Drive to carry, copy, and transfer your digital data like music, videos, pictures, and documents has no similar counterpart. If you have been into this data travelling stuff some years ago, you might have experience the difficulty in using old Floppy Disks. The data transfer speed of USB2.0 storage device is almost 500times faster than 3.5 Inch Floppy Disk. Similarly, the storage capacity of USB2.0 devices are much larger than the maximum storage capacity (1.8 MB) of general 3.5 Inch Floppy Disk e.g. a 2GB USB Storage device has a 1000 times larger storage capacity and this capacity is increasing rapidly (16GB USB Flash is easily available).
The simplicity comes at some cost. You might have to share your USB flash device with one of your family members, friends, or colleagues. In this case, your USB data is no more secure. The easiest but ineffective solution will be to delete your private data and then share your secure USB with someone. Androsa FileProtector is a free portable application which provides best feature to secure and password protect your USB files. It can be carried on your portable device like USB Flash, iPod, or Phones and takes only 15 MB of disk. It supports three advanced algorithms for file encryption. After downloading the portable version, install it to your removable media e.g. USB. Now you can carry and use it on any Windows Machine.
- Launch the application and click on “Add File” or “Add Folder” button according to your requirement.
- Then click on the Protect/Decrypt/Self-Decrypting Archive bar and choose the option
- Secured files created from Protect/Decrypt option will be decrypted only if Androsa FileProtector is installed.
- If you want to create executable password protected archive which can be used without Androsa FileProtector installation, choose Self-Decrypting Archive (SDX).
- Choose your password (Password Strength is show in front of Password Field) and click the Protect/Create SDX Button. A new window containing protection results will appear.
- You can further adjust the settings in advanced and security tabs like File Deletion, SDX path, and Password Hint.
How To Use Androsa FileProtector
Thus, you are done in securing your USB files with password protection. Similarly, you can use this toll to encrypt and lock general data residing on your hard disk.
Although the above method is fully suitable to encrypt or password protect your USB flash or some other storage device, it can not secure your USB device from antivirus, malware, or spyware infection. There is a strong possibility that if you lend someone your USB, his PC may be infected with any kind of malicious software and can damage your precious USB data. The best precaution is to install a portable application in your device which can protect USB from Viruses, Trojans, and Spywares. Following are two best potable antivirus and tools to make your USB defendable against Viruses.
Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool
This portable tool is for detection and removal of infections caused by specific, prevalent malicious software—including Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom—and helps remove any infection found. Microsoft releases an updated version of this tool on the second Tuesday of each month, and as needed to respond to security incidents. This utility can help in protecting your USB from dangerous applications.
1-2-3 Spyware Free is an ultimate stand alone application that discovers and eliminates all kinds of viruses, spyware, Trojans, worms and dangerous applications that might intrude into PC while surfing internet. It can efficiently protect USB Flash Device from Viruses.
Stinger is a free portable utility used to detect and remove specific viruses. Stinger utilizes next generation scan engine technology, including process scanning, digitally signed DAT files, and scan performance optimizations. Stinger is an easy to use application for securing USB storage device from Malicious Software.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Nice tools EngineerHead.What do u think about avast?
Avast is really nice tool missing from list