USB Encryption Is The Best Weapon Against Data Theft
Data encryption is fast becoming a requirement, especially if you transport a flash drive around like your car keys or a cell phone. These tiny devices are easy far too easy to lose; they get left on a table at the library, slide from a stack of papers on a desk and the owner often doesn’t realize they’re gone, lifted by data thieves looking for interesting information. The problem of data theft is growing, as flash drives use grows and capacity increases, exposing documents and photos, personal financial information and client records.
Some companies have banned the use of flash drives and have gone so far as to glue USB drives closed to keep employees from putting important information on these vulnerable devices. IT personnel know that most users do not take the necessary precautions - they drop them, leave them on desks and in their unlocked cars - opening potentially sensitive information to exploitation. Encrypting the contents of the flash drives is critical.
Encryption Is Still Not Widely Used
As discouraging as the number of people who have their flash drives lost or stolen is, worse yet is that the vast majority of them are not using encryption software to protect their data.
Just think, if someone finds your USB device, they can learn a lot more about you than you would like. By plugging the device into their PC, they could access your email messages, IM contacts, passwords you have stored on the internet, bank account details and more. Certainly, there are a few good Samaritans that may kindly turn the device back over to you, but many more will keep it for their own personal gain - a potentially catastrophic situation. Depending on what you have stored on there, a lost USB drive could easily lead to identity theft - and that is only the beginning of your problems.
Stopping Putting Your Data at Risk - Get USB Encryption
While USB flash drives are offer easy pickings for thieves, encryption can stop them in their tracks. Numerous solutions are readily available on the web that put your data in a virtual vault. In addition to flash drives, these tools usually work on laptop and desktop PCs and other portable media like memory cards, as well. And the peace of mind that comes from knowing your data is secure doesn’t have to set you back - most programs are available for under $60. There are some free tools to be found as well, however, they can often be more complicated to use and usually do not include much support.
Written by Steve Jordan on April 23rd, 2009 with
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