Encrypted USB sticks - are they cheap and reliable?

bargrin on 09/03/2017 - 01:56

Hi

I was after a USB stick to store my financial and business info as I travel a lot and don't want to carry paper files and don't trust the cloud as sometimes unable to access the internet whilst travelling.

However, I am paranoid of putting sensitive data on a usb stick and then losing it, so can anyone recommend a usb stick (upto 128gb) that they use to encrypt sensitive info that no one can access if they tried?

thanks

Computing

Comments

  • altomic on 09/03/2017 - 02:18
    +4

    get a regular USB stick and install VeraCrypt on to it.

    • isidore12 on 09/03/2017 - 08:28

      VeraCrypt is good, I use it for my laptop. For my USB drive, I use DiskCryptor.

      VeraCrypt is certainly more secure. AES encryption is fast, as it is implemented in Intel CPU.

      AES Serpent would be even more secure, but slow compared to AES.

  • tim_geo on 09/03/2017 - 02:42
    +2

    If you have windows 7 or above should be able to use windows encryption known as BitLocker on any regular drive. The drive is only read only though on non windows or windows XP and prior.

    • barnaclebil on 09/03/2017 - 08:51

      Go with this option, works easily and it is built into windows.

  • c64 on 09/03/2017 - 07:42

    create an encrypted volume using software on a normal usb stick

  • mskeggs on 09/03/2017 - 08:01

    I'd be more inclined to encrypt the file with details on it, then keep a copy on a usb, and also on your phone etc. You don't want to be stuck with no access to passwords etc. in a foreign place should your USB die.

  • shaybisc on 09/03/2017 - 10:11

    I use Encryptstick. I have no idea if they have a back channel which they will give to NSA.

    http://www.encryptstick.com/

    Even safer is hardware encrytion like Datashur or Integral Crypto but it will permanently delete your files if someone gets a hold of it and tries to log in more than 10 times.

  • Clear on 09/03/2017 - 10:25

    I've been using this one from Netac which has dedicated buttons for entering a code to unlock. Netac do have smaller USB flash drives, but they're USB 2.0 and their buttons are too hard to press.

    Using software like others have pointed out is probably a better solution has you can use it with pretty much any removable media. I personally have my files encrypted with software on the Netac.

  • supnigs super skids on 09/03/2017 - 11:07

    what you can do is copy files on iphone and bring a usb cable. the filesystem is encrypted and most would have dificulty getting data out of it when updated to latest IOS.

  • bargrin on 12/03/2017 - 23:09

    thanks the VeraCrypt is real good and easy to use.

    Will also try the others.

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