tech: Encrypting data on USB sticks
Many people are paranoid about their data security, and rightly so - losing data can mean losing privacy. In this episode, I take you step by step through the process of creating encrypted volumes on a USB drive. That way, if you lose your thumbdrive, your data will be protected by MI5-grade encryption.
It’s surprisingly easy to do - all you need is five minutes and some software. For Windows, I recommend using TrueCrypt which is very easy to install and setup.
For Mac, it’s even simpler, with encryption being built straight into the operating system through Disk Utility. If you’re not running Leopard, you’ll find that the most you can use is AES 128-bit rather than 256-bit - this is still perfectly adequate as long as you use a long password.
Hope you find the show useful and that it helps keep your data safe. Enjoy.
-Wil
I have been using TrueCrypt for a while now… it is a pity there isn’t a version for the mac. I think it is important to remember that people carry data on USB drives so they can use it with most of the machines they find (otherwise why carry it around?). Therefore it’s a good idea to carry the installation program for your chosen encryption software on the drive as well.