5 USB Flash Drive Safety Tips

June 8th, 2007

Flash drives have replaced the floppy and the CD for portable storage. Their physical size continues to get smaller and the capacity increases offering the ability to store so much information in a convenient to carry package. Here are a few tips to help keep you and your information safe.

1. Create a text file named “IF FOUND”

Put an If found.txt file in the root folder of the drive. In it simply type your name, email address, and phone number. If the information you store on it is important enough, you may wish to offer a reward. I have a couple of drives that I found but had no way to identify the owner.

2. Start with at least two folders: Business and Personal

I only want to keep track of one of these drives, so I mix business with personal. By organizing your files in this basic manner, you can avoid some embarrassment. Loading a presentation from your drive being projected to an auditorium full of people, no one wants to see picture previews of your drunk friends at the beach or your musical favorite: “I like big butts.mp3.”

3. Password Protect Personal Files

I would be very cautious about what type of files you store on your flash drive since it can be so easily lost or stolen, but there are times when it is not avoidable. There might be a good reason you need to transport a PDF of your tax return on your drive and you will be sure to delete it right after you are done, but most likely you will forget it was ever there. Most applications have the ability to password protect files in a fairly secure way, and it will at least deter the casual finder from accessing your personal information.

You could also set the folder or files to “Hidden” which will also keep them out of view from the average person, but “security by obscurity” is not a good model.

Some USB drives have some built-in security measures, password protection, and encryption which can also have some impact on flexibility, but would certainly be worth it based upon the sensitivity of your data. Be careful.

4. Supervised Visits

If someone needs to use your drive to copy a file to or fro, make sure you are looking over their shoulder. Just as people will look through your medicine cabinet when using your bathroom, expect people to nose through your files and help themselves to a copy of anything interesting. (”Got any naked pictures of your wife? You want some?”)

5. Backup Your Files

Make sure you have a current copy of the files on your USB drive somewhere else. If you tend to work directly on the files on the drive, you are flirting with disaster. There is no file recovery from a device you no longer have.

Entry Filed under: Digital Living, Technology

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