How To Encrypt USB Disk And Portable Drives?

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If you want to protect your data on the go, you can use portable hard drives and USB drives which often come preloaded with all kinds of personal information and data. An encrypted external hard drive or USB drive is the best way to ensure that your data is completely safe from any prying eyes. In this article, we will walk you through simple steps to encrypt a USB drive, portable hard drives as well as flash drives.

the Encrypt USB Disk and Portable Drives

Encrypting a USB disk or portable drive is crucial, especially if you have confidential files stored in them. USB disks and any portable drives have a tendency to get easily lost, misplaced, or even stolen.

This is why it is essential to secure any data in these portable storage devices. With that said, this guide will take you to the step-by-step process of encrypting a USB flash drive or any other portable device.

What You Will Need

First of all, you will need to have software to help you with your files’ encryption or the actual flash drive or external storage device itself.

In terms of data and drive encryption, software from NewSoftwares called Folder Lock has been making the rounds on the Internet lately.

Folder Lock may seem new to some, but this software can handle almost anything regarding securing files, folders, and even USB drives.

Installation

Before you can use Folder Lock, you first have to install it on your machine. Here is a simple guide on how you can install Folder Lock:

  1. Download the software from NewSoftwares.
  2. Open the installer and follow the prompts.
  3. Once the installation process is completed, you will now then be able to start using Folder Lock.

If you are using the free version of Folder Lock, you have about 25 uses, after which you will need to purchase it.

How to Use Folder Lock to Secure your Drives

To be able to secure your USB flash drives or external drives, here is what you have to do:

  1. Open Folder Lock.
  2. Enter a Master Password.
    Tips on passwords 
    •  You can change them anytime as long as you remember the correct password.
    •  Make sure that you will remember your password.
    •  Make the password as difficult as possible. You can have some capital letters, numbers, and even symbols to increase the security of your password.
    •  Try to avoid using passwords related to you, like birthdays, names, and other personal information.
  3. Select Protect USBSelect Protect USB
  4. After you click Protect USB, you will have a ton of options to choose from.•  Protect USB drive – Here, you will be able to protect your files by placing them in Lockers that are password-protected. You don’t have to install Folder Lock to open them
    •  Protect CD & DVD – You can choose to burn your Locker that contains files and folders into a CD or DVD.
    •  Protect Attachment – Compress your files and protect them with a password before sending them as an attachment to an email.
  5. Since the guide is about USB drive protection, click on Protect USB drive.
  6. You will then have an option whether you would like to make your existing Locker portable or if you would like to create a new portable Locker for your USB drive.
  7. Select Create a new portable Locker in my USB Drive for now.
  8. Enter your desired Locker name and passwords and also browse for your USB drive.
  9. You can then choose a range of data you want to protect. Click on Next after you have selected your range.
  10. Click on Finish, and you can then close Folder Lock.

Summary: Encrypt USB Disk and Portable Drives

  • Start VeraCrypt
  • Select Encrypt a non-system partition/drive
  • Choose a Volume Type
  • Select a host volume for encryption
  • Enter password and click Next
  • Enter Password Again and Click Format
  • Wait While VeraCrypt Formats the USB Drive.

Conclusion

What is great about using Folder Lock for file encryption is how easy it is to use it. Even without comprehensive computer knowledge, you will still be able to protect your files and folders from threats with just a few simple clicks.

You will now be able to breathe a sigh of relief since you won’t have to worry about protecting your data anymore. Folder Lock has got you covered for that.

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