USB disk protection

[ThomasJSmart]

I have no idea if this is the right forum but i use vista so maybe....if not perhaps a moderator can help me out?


Im looking (and believe me i have tried google) for software to do the following:

I have an external hard disk, say its 500 gb.

what i want to be able to do is secure and hide this data on the disk. But in such a way that it is completely hidden unless you have the software and the password. if the disk gets stolen/lost and someone opens it they see a 500gb harddisk with no files on it (Even with hidden files shown in windows , and only with some kind of data restore tool would they realy be able to find anything (unavoidable im guessing?) however anything they find should be encrypted.

scenario 1:
i loose the harddisk on the train, some kid finds it, plugs it into the pc, finds nothing on it and starts using it. as he adds data it overwrites the secure hidden data and no-one is the wiser.

scenario 2: someone steals it with the intent to get my data, they find it empty however but are not deterred. they throw some data retrieval software over it only to find unusable encrypted data

possible?? available??? or not... or have i just given some company a great idea resulting in big profit? fine with me as long as i get copy of software



site |

http://www.thomassmart.com

blog |

http://weblog.thomassmart.com

aplis |

http://www.thomassmart.com/Aplis

 

[linney]

Have a look at the BitLocker program if you use Windows Vista Ultimate or Windows Vista Enterprise.

Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption Step-by-Step Guide

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc766295.aspx

Security Folks out there: Free alternative to BitLocker

http://www.msblog.org/2008/07/10/security-folks-out-there-free-alternative-to-bitlocker/

TrueCrypt 6.2

http://www.truecrypt.org/

 

[ThomasJSmart]

truecrypt definatly comes very near to what i want

site |

http://www.thomassmart.com

blog |

http://weblog.thomassmart.com

aplis |

http://www.thomassmart.com/Aplis

 

[smah]

I'm not sure if bitlocker will work on external usb drives (I've never tried, but I don't think it will). Truecrypt should. 'Bitlocker to go' in Windows 7 will work with external usb devices..

 

[linney]

I have never tried it on any external hard drive either, perhaps someone can confirm or deny whether it works or not?

SP1 made some changes to the drives that could be encrypted. SP2 is out now, I don't know if that made any further changes since then.

 

[SimonDavies]

As mentioned already, what you need for Bitlocker and USB is Bitlocker to go which ships in Win7.

definitely Truecrypt tho.

Simon

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