The use of flash drives for storing information is gaining more and more popularity, because they have a number of undeniable advantages before obsolete CDs and DVD discs. The flash drive does not take up much space, is easy to use and has a fairly large amount of memory. That is why the question: how to put a password on a USB flash drive is relevant today. After all, it can store personal data, important documents and, in general, any other information that you would not want to show to other people.
In this article, I will tell you how to put a password on a USB flash drive using the built-in BitLocker program, or using the free USB Safeguard program.
bitlocker
You can set a password on a USB flash drive using the built-in Windows Tools. For this, the BitLocker program is used. Go to the "My Computer" folder and click right click mouse on the flash drive on which we will set the password. Now in context menu select item "Turn on BitLocker".
If you did not find this item in the context menu, it does not matter. We go "Start" - "Control Panel".
In the right upper corner select "View" - "Category". Next follow the link "System and safety".
In the following list, select the item "BitLocker Drive Encryption".
We select the disk partition that corresponds to the flash drive, I have this (G :), and click on the button opposite it "Turn on BitLocker".
In the window that opens, check the box next to the item "Use password to unlock drive". Next, enter the invented password, the length of which must be at least 8 characters, otherwise the program will not let you go further, and click "Next".
In the next window, the program offers to save the key to restore the disk, this is in case you forget the password. Choose an item "Save the recovery key in a file" and select a location on the computer where it will be stored. It is better that it be a folder where they go least often. Click "Next".
During encryption, do not remove the flash drive. My 1 GB flash drive was half full and the encryption took 3 minutes. Therefore, if the volume of your flash drive is larger, be prepared that the process will take a little time.
Now, the flash drive is password protected. Each time you turn it on to your computer, a golden lock will be displayed next to the disk. We open the flash drive and see that the BitLocker program asks for a password. Enter it and click "Unblock". When the flash drive is unlocked, a silver lock will be displayed next to it in the "My Computer" folder.
If you want to delete or change the password on the flash drive, right-click on it and select from the context menu « BitLocker Management» . The following window appears, in which you can perform several necessary actions.
USB Safeguard
The USB Safeguard program allows you to set a password on a flash drive. Its clear functionality is suitable for both advanced and novice users. You can download USB Safeguard from the official website: http://www.usbsafeguard.com/download.html. You will be offered two versions to download. The first is free, suitable for those who have a flash drive up to 2 GB. The second - paid, allows you to set a password on a USB flash drive, the volume of which does not exceed 16 terabytes.
I will install the first - free - version. I click on the "Download now" button and save the installation file.
Now copy the downloaded installation file to the root of the flash drive and run it from the flash drive. The installation of the program is carried out as usual: we constantly press "Next", then "Finish". Considering that most flash drives are in FAT format, during the installation process the program will offer to format it in NTFS - we agree. Please note that when formatting, all files from the USB flash drive will be deleted, so it is better to copy everything to your computer in advance.
In the next window, you need to enter the password for the flash drive. We invent it, enter it, confirm it, in the last field you can enter a hint, you will see it if you forget the password. Click "OK".
Now remove the flash drive and insert it back into the computer. Open it and run the file "USBSafeguard".
That is, the program creates another protected file on the flash drive. virtual disk Z:. The volume of this disk is the same as the volume of the flash drive. When writing a file to the Z: drive, the space on the flash drive will also decrease.
Files to which you do not want to protect access, just copy directly to a USB flash drive: in my case, this is the G: drive. If you want the file to be protected, copy it to the Z: drive.
Thus, when you connect a flash drive to a computer, you will get access to open files on her. But in order to open password-protected files, you will need to run the USBSafeguard program and enter the password. Only after that you will have access to the protected disk Z:.
Now you can put the password on the flash drive. Just choose one of the described methods and I'm sure everything will work out and your personal files and documents will be protected.
A flash drive is a useful and irreplaceable thing in many situations. After all, we store gigabytes and even terabytes of a wide variety of data on it - photos, videos, documents, their copies, any useful software, and more. etc. Moreover, most of what is usually contained on the media is personal and confidential information. Therefore, many users, for protection, install on removable drives passwords. It can be done different ways. Do you want to know how to secure a flash drive and everything stored on it from unauthorized persons? Happy reading then!
On OS Windows Vista, 7 and 8 (although not on all versions - only on server, corporate, professional, etc.) special application. It's called Bitlocker. This program is designed to encrypt data stored on hard drives and portable media. The utility is also suitable in order to set a password and restrict access to the flash drive.
At the same time, the technology bitlocker encryption pretty reliable. The only caveat is that you cannot set a password for a separate folder or file. Only for the whole disk.
How to secure a USB device with Bitlocker? It is enough to do the following:
After all the described manipulations, the flash drive will become protected. It will be possible to access it only after entering the correct password.
Using the WinRAR archiver
There is another fairly simple way to password-protect data on a flash drive. Moreover, all that is required is the usual WinRAR archiver, which is on most computers.
How to use this program to encrypt access to the media? Everything is simple. WinRAR has a password setting feature. The user only needs to do the following:
- We connect the flash drive to a PC or laptop.
- Go to the "My Computer" folder (for Windows 8 and 10 - "This PC").
- Right click on the media.
- In the context menu that appears, select the "Add to archive" item. It will probably be written in English. Then Add to archive.
- Next, go to the tab "Basic" (General) or "Advanced" (Advanced). Depending on the version of the archiver, one of them contains the “Set password” button. Just click on it.
- Enter the password in the field marked in the screenshot. Confirm it by clicking OK.
After that, all your data will be transferred to the archive on the flash drive. If you want to open it, you will have to enter the code word you set earlier. At the same time, access to the contents of the drive can be obtained on any computer with an archiver program. And optionally WinRAR. Any other with similar functionality will do. The same 7-zip.
We use special software
Today, there are dozens of programs for setting a password on various media and disks. Naturally, such software can be used to put a password on a USB flash drive.
Among the most interesting such utilities:
- USB Safeguard;
- lockngo;
- CyberSafe Top Secret;
- Rohos Mini Drive etc.
Let's now briefly talk about each program.
USBSafeguard
Highly handy application. Does not require installation. There is a free version. But its functionality is limited. For example, it will turn out to password-protect only a disk with a volume of no more than 2 GB.
You can download the program for Mac, Linux and Windows. It is very easy to use. Simply download the usbsafeguard.exe file and place it on a USB stick. Next, open it from the drive and enter a password.
The principle of operation of this program is similar to USB Safeguard. But it compares favorably with the fact that there are no restrictions on the volume of the disk. In addition, a Russified menu is provided. It can be used to protect any portable drives, not only with a usb interface, but also with a micro sd.
CyberSafe Top Secret
According to many users, this is one of the the best means encryption. The utility is released in different versions. There is a more simplified, and professional, and corporate modification. For home use and the usual protection of a flash drive with a password, it will be enough free version.
There are several encryption algorithms available in CyberSafe Top Secret. At the same time, you can block access both to individual files and to containers, disk partitions and entire removable media. The menu is Russified. The interface is clear and simple. The only caveat is that you won’t be able to open a USB flash drive on a PC where this program is not installed.
Rohos Mini Drive
Another very convenient and free utility. Definitely suitable for novice users. True, it does not protect the entire disk, but only the specified part of it. AES encryption algorithm with a key length of 256 bits. Otherwise, in terms of its functionality, Rohos Mini Drive is close to other similar programs mentioned above.
We use drives with hardware protection
You can also find flash drives with hardware data protection on sale. They are suitable for those users who want to do without special programs, but at the same time they want to be sure that no one else will get access to their personal information stored on a removable drive.
On the case of such media there are buttons with which the user enters the password. Have you seen such devices? Then pay attention to Toshiba Encrypted USB Flash Drive. This is exactly the popular representative of flash drives with hardware protection.
By the way, using such drives is easy. Connect the device to the USB port, enter the combination on the keyboard, which is located on the panel of the flash drive itself. That's all!
What if…?
But what should the user do if he forgot the password from the flash drive? Is there a way to remove it and put in a new one? This is quite difficult, and sometimes even impossible. After all, if the code word is lost, then it is usually impossible to read or format the drive. That's the whole point of portable media encryption. So that if the flash drive is lost, the owner does not worry that someone will be able to access the personal information stored on it.
But what if the password is hopelessly lost? You can seek help from specialists who know how to use hacking programs. Only now, even hackers often fail to restore access to files on a protected medium. In addition, using cracker programs can harm the drive and disable it.
If the flash drive is locked via Bitlocker, then, as a rule, in this case, you can recover the password using the recovery key. Depending on what you choose, it may be stored in an account. Microsoft records, on paper copy or as a separate file. Also, if protection is installed through special programs, then it makes sense to try resetting the password. Some utilities provide this capability. But many are not.
So it's best to just be careful. That is, come up with a password that you definitely will not forget.
Flash drives are handy, small, portable and can be read on any device with USB port. These features make them ideal for transferring information from one computer to another.
However, due to their portability, they can be easily lost. Therefore, confidential files recorded on USB stick must be password protected.
Unfortunately, you do not have the opportunity to simply take and password-protect the entire flash drive with a password, as you do in your Facebook account, protecting it with a password.
Special encryption programs - that's what will protect your information from prying eyes.
If you don't want to spend money on a special, secure, hardware-encrypted flash drive, you can use free apps to achieve the same level of protection.
In this article, we will cover some of the most simple ways protect files and folders on your removable media.
Easily save files with a password
As mentioned above, you can't just go ahead and secure your flash drive with a password without using encryption. However, if you don't have the time or just don't want to go through the lengthy process of encrypting folders, and you need a quick result to protect just a few files, then you can secure these files by setting passwords on them and then writing them to a USB flash drive.
Many programs, including Word and Excel, allow you to protect files with a password. For example, in Word this can be done by going to open document on the tab "", which is located at Tools> Options. After that, you can enter a password and finally save the document. Just don't forget your password.
Create encrypted and password protected partitions with Rohos Mini Drive
Many programs are able to encrypt and password protect your data. However, most of them require administrator rights to fully work on any computer. Unfortunately, this also applies to some of the the best programs encryption (example: TrueCrypt). Such tools cannot be used if you need to transfer data to another computer on which you do not have administrator rights.
Rohos Mini Drive is exactly the tool that will work if you do not have administrator rights. The free version of the program can create a hidden, encrypted or password-protected partition up to 2 GB on a USB drive. The tool uses automatic encryption based on the AES algorithm with a 256-bit key. Thanks to the portable Rohos Mini Drive, which installs directly on a portable flash drive, unencrypted data will be available on the local system. All encrypted data can be accessed from any other computer.
Once you have created a password protected and encrypted department on your external drive, you can open it by clicking on the Rohos Mini.exe icon from the root folder. After entering the password, your Rohos disk will be mounted and accessible via the computer, i.e. you will be able to use all disks and partitions connected to the system. To close all sections of Rohos, you need to right-click the Rohos program icon in the notification area and select "Disable".
Download the program from the official website: Rohos Mini Drive
Protecting a flash drive with USB Safeguard
Like Rohos Mini Drive, USB Safeguard is portable application that works directly with the USB stick and therefore does not require administrator rights to local computer. The encryption uses the AES algorithm with 256-bit encryption. In the free version, the disk size is limited to 2 GB.
Download usbsafeguard.exe and copy it to a USB stick. Run it from your flash drive and enter the password to lock the drive. To lock, run the file again and enter the password. The locking procedure needs to be repeated every time you want to lock a drive, so try to remember what status the drive is in, locked or unlocked. By the way, this has its own plus: you have the opportunity to change the password every time you use USB Safeguard.
A flash drive is an incredibly convenient way to store information. Currently, this is the easiest option to transfer gigabytes of information, sometimes very personal or even confidential.
The main advantages of flash drives are:
- vibration resistance;
- ease of use;
- compactness;
- energy independence.
Why protect a flash drive
Compactness is a definite plus! However, with a small flash drive, the chances of losing it increase. Can I put a password on a flash drive? Of course! In order to protect your confidential information on a flash drive and not allow the person who found it to read and use it for personal purposes, of course, you need to set a password on it.
Overview of protection programs
Bitlocker program
Starting with the Vista operating system, Microsoft has provided users with a means to protect their data. This security software is called Bitlocker. Deliveries of this program are carried out only on Operating Systems, aimed at corporate users, such as WindowsVista / 7 editions of Enterprise, Ultimate and Windows 8 of all variations except RT.
Photo: Bitlocker encryption
Bitlocker is a decent, albeit imperfect, program for encrypting data on logical drives, which will help you make a password on a usb flash drive. Encryption of information is complete, that is, all data on the medium is encrypted. Bitlocker is much more flexible than the standard password setting software.
BitlockerToGo - available only from Windows users 7 and older, designed specifically for removable media, can also be installed on Vista/Windows XP.
To set a password on a flash drive, it must be connected to the computer and in the context menu (right-click on the flash drive icon in the "My Computer" window) and select "Enable Bitlocker". In the window that appears, select protection using a smart card or password.
After you have set a password, the system will prompt you to save or print a special recovery key that acts as an answer to a security question. That is, when you decide to change, change the password, the program will ask for the same key.
To open the BitLocker settings menu again, you can open the "Settings for managing BitLocker" section from the flash drive's context menu at any time.
Rohos MiniDrive Software
This small and completely free program does not require administrator rights at all, but it does not set a password for the entire flash drive.
The Rohos Mini Drive program creates a password-protected sector with a maximum capacity of 2 GB. Like most analogues, it uses AES encryption with a 256-bit key for protection.
Photo: Rohos Mini Drive protection
Rohos Mini Drive also has the ability to share unencrypted data with the entire local system. That is, this data can be easily accessed from another computer in the system.
TrueCrypt program
TrueCrypt is a great free encryption and data storage software. With its help, you can create an encrypted container for an unlimited number of GB. After creating such a container, you can dump all the data you need into it, and encryption will happen automatically.
Photo: data encryption by TrueCrypt
When creating a volume (encrypted container), you can also choose file system, by default the program uses FAT. In order to work with the container, you will need the TrueCrypt program itself. After opening it, specify the location of your secret archive, and then, entering the password, open the archive itself. Everything is quite simple.
You can copy this container with a password from one computer to another, open it from a flash card, transfer it via e-mail. And even if it ends up in the wrong hands, it is almost impossible to decrypt it without knowing the password.
How to put a password on a flash drive 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB
It doesn't really matter how big your drive is. In any case, you can use one of the following tips:
- if your drive is no more than 2 GB, then you can use trial version USBSafeguard, RohosMiniDrive, or use the same BitLocker, you can also archive files.
- if the drive has large volumes, for example 8, 16 or 32 GB, then we recommend either purchasing a USBSafeguard license, or using the same BitLocker if you have Windows, or using the free TrueCrypt data encryption program.
Working with a memory device
Especially for those who work with a device such as a flash drive for the first time. When working with flash drives, which at first glance are transparent, there are still some nuances.
When you connect your device to the connector, the autorun window pops up (applicable to Windows).
Choose what you need when connecting a flash drive to a computer:
- open folder to view files. This will launch File Explorer. It may not open due to viruses or malfunctions. In this case, information from a flash drive can be obtained using the Explorer program;
- use this disk for archiving. This means that you can use this media to back up and archive important files;
- speed up the system. This function is designed to solve the problem of low memory on the computer using a flash drive.
And don't forget about safe shutdown. On the notification panel there is a special icon called " Safe extraction devices and disks. By clicking on it, you can remove the disk you need without harming the system.
Video: how to remove write protection from a flash drive
If you need to remove the password
A small flash drive is easy to steal or borrow for a while, it does not have any protection from prying hands and eyes, of course, if everything is not thought out and blocked in advance removable media from outsiders.
You can set a password on a USB flash drive using specialized programs, for example, USB Safeguard.
Famous manufacturers of flash media release their devices with cryptographic applications already “embedded”. In any case, in order to remove the password from the flash drive, it is better to remember it, and then, by typing it in the appropriate field of the program used to protect data, remove it.
With USB Safeguard, password deletion is done via the DecryptAll button with the Anddelete checkbox enabled. Applications for the famous Transcend brand have a "Deletepassword" item.
Photo: flash drive password with USB Safeguard
Absolutely all such programs have a similar interface, which is easy to understand even for a child.
But let's answer a popular question:“I forgot my password, how can I remove it and set a new one?” If the password is lost, the flash drive cannot be read or formatted for further use. (Which is great, since the password would otherwise make no sense.)
Of course, you can use the services of people who really know how to handle such embarrassing password situations. Or you can hack for free using special programs, but this is done at your own peril and risk, the computer may pick up unwanted viruses.
Unfortunately or fortunately, for flash drives with a built-in software protection in 95% of cases it is impossible to access the data.
Of course, the only working way to avoid getting into a similar situation in the future is to try to come up with a stronger password that you can never forget.
Requires a password to connect
This means that a password has been set on the flash drive. If you didn’t install it, then the chances of finding out what is stored on the flash drive are negligible. If you installed it, then remember or find an entry with a password to unlock it.
Photo: Setting and removing a password from a flash drive
Formatting
Why format a flash drive:
How to format a flash drive. Formatting types.
There are two types of formatting:
- quick formatting. The data you have deleted can be recovered. With a quick format, the system will not check the disk for errors and will not correct them, therefore the process will also occur faster than a full one;
- full formatting. The data cannot be recovered.
There will be a check for errors and, if you wish, you can correct them. If you have extra time on the order of 1-2 minutes, choose full formatting better, if not - fast.
The easiest option to format a USB flash drive is to right-click on the removable disk shortcut and select "Format ...".
After completing this action, you will see the "Format Removable Disk(G:)" window.
Password without programs
The easiest trick is, of course, setting passwords for necessary files. To do this, you only need archivers such as AdobeAcrobat, WinRAR or 7Zip.
They are the most popular archivers with which files can be easily protected and saved. If you have the desire and the relevant knowledge, of course, they can be hacked, but for average users this is almost impossible.
If you want to remove the password from the flash drive, then open the usbsafeguard.exe file you downloaded earlier and enter the password in the window that opens. The locking procedure must be repeated every time you want to lock the drive, so try to remember what status the drive is in, unlocked or blocked.
Video: USB Safeguard 4.0 - Setting a Password
Of course, this feature USB programs Safeguard is a plus. Now you will be able to change the password every time you log in.
Also in the settings you can specify after what period of time the media will be blocked. That is, after the specified number of minutes of inactivity, the password will be reset on the flash drive.
Putting a password on a flash drive can sometimes be very useful. This will save you from unpleasant disappointments in the form of losing important documents. You can use both standard file archivers and protection programs, such as USB Safeguard.
Thanks to this article, you also learned formatting, the nuances of working with flash media, and you know what to do if you lose your password. Good luck with this simple task!
USB flash drives are small, portable and versatile storage devices. Flash drives are very convenient for transferring data between computers. However, due to their portability and compactness, USB sticks can be easily lost. Therefore, you need to take care of reliable data protection on the flash drive.
Unfortunately, you cannot simply set a password for the entire drive, as is the case with a smartphone or computer. For enhanced protection your files need to be encrypted. If you do not wish to separately purchase a secure, hardware-encrypted flash drive, you can use free programs to obtain a similar level of security.
In this article, we have provided some simple ways to protect files and folders on a USB flash drive.
If you need to protect only certain important documents, and you do not need to encrypt entire folders, then you can simply limit yourself to setting password protection for individual files.
Many programs, including Word and Excel, allow you to save files with a password.
For example, when the required document is opened in text editor Microsoft Word, you can go to the menu File > Details, select item Document protection and option Encrypt with a password.
It remains only to set secure password and confirm its installation. Remember to save the document and be sure to remember or write down the password.
Download the portable version of VeraCrypt and extract it to a USB drive. When you launch the application, a list of available drive letters will be displayed. Select a letter and press Create Volume
To create a virtual encrypted disk inside a file, select the option Create an encrypted file container and click Next.
In the next step, you can choose the type of volume: regular or hidden. Using a hidden volume reduces the risk of someone forcing you to reveal your password. In our example, we will create a regular volume. Next, select the location of the encrypted volume - a removable USB drive.
Set up encryption and specify the size of the volume (should not exceed the size of the USB drive). Then select the encryption and hash algorithm, you can use the default settings. Then set your volume password. In the next step, your random mouse movements will determine the cryptographic strength of the encryption.
After encryption is complete, each time you connect the USB drive to any computer, you can launch VeraCrypt hosted on it and mount the encrypted file container to access the data.
VeraCrypt supports encryption of entire partitions and storage devices.
Download VeraCrypt and install the program on your PC. When you launch the application, a list of available drive letters will be displayed. Select a letter and press Create Volume. The VeraCrypt Volume Creation Wizard will start.
To encrypt the entire USB drive, select the option Encrypt non-system partition/disk and click Next.
In the next step, you can choose the type of volume: regular or hidden. Using a hidden volume reduces the risk of someone forcing you to reveal your password.
On the next screen of the wizard, you need to select a device, i.e. our removable USB disk, and then click OK and Next.
In our example, we will create a regular volume. On the next screen of the wizard, you need to select a device, i.e. our removable USB drive, and then click "OK" and "Next".
To encrypt the entire USB drive, select Encrypt partition in place and click Next. VeraCrypt will warn you that you must have backup data - if something goes wrong during encryption, you can restore access to your files. Then select the encryption and hash algorithm, you can use the default settings. Then set your volume password. In the next step, your random mouse movements will determine the cryptographic strength of the encryption.
Then select a cleaning mode. The more rewriting cycles, the more reliable the cleaning. In the final step choose Encryption to start the encryption process.
After the encryption is complete, each time you connect the USB drive to your computer, you will need to mount it with VeraCrypt in order to access the data.
Many modern archivers, including the free 7-Zip, support AES-256 encryption and file password protection.
Install 7-Zip, then right-click on a file or folder on your USB drive and select 7-Zip > Add to archive. In the "Add to archive" window, select the archive format and set a password. Click "OK" to begin the archiving and encryption process.
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