USB Flash Drives

[Dudley]

If I were to store say, all my financial files on a USB Flash Drive, would any data be left on my laptop once I removed it and if it was stolen (the laptop that is), would the thief be able to access any such data? I appreciate that I would need to password protect the flash drive in case that was lost or stolen.

[figure]

I believe a very computer literate person will still be able to access them. I recently read in another post that information stored on flash drives does not keep indefinitely. It only last for about five years, I think it was five. I might be wrong and probably dreamed that. Hopefully one of those computer geeks will come on and answer your question.

[ChuckFickens]

somebody call for a geek :)

Figure is correct, if you delete something from your computer hard drive the actual file is not deleted, all that happens is a "pointer" to the file is removed which tells the computer that space on the drive is available to be used again, this means that as long as another file has not been written over the same physical space on the drive it can be recovered. there is software available to properly wipe files from your drive so they can't be recovered.

and yes again, flash drives will "wear out" they are ok for transferring files about and for short term backup, but for long term back up decent quality cd or DVD media is better

[figure]

Hello and good morning ChuckFickens! How very punctual. x

[fo3nix]

The above is correct, but it's also more complicated than that.

If you were working on your secret documents, on the flash drive, it must be loaded into main memory on your laptop.

If you then put your laptop to sleep, that memory would be written to the hard drive on your computer for safe keeping.

If it's a Microsoft Office file, (or indeed some others), they are often set to store a backup file on your drive whenever you edit the main file, in case of power loss or something. This will likely be stored unprotected on your laptop.

I'd recommend using an app like TrueCrypt to create a virtual drive file (and store it anywhere, it won't matter), then put that your secret documents in that drive. When the drive is locked, no-one will be able to access those documents (simply password protecting your stuff will do nothing).

I think there are ways in TrueCrypt to turn on secure virtual memory too (or with some other app?), and then tell whatever program you use for the documents to not store little backup files.

That should be enough.

If you're really paranoid, you can use TrueCrypt to encrypt your entire laptop drive, all transparently. You enter a password when you turn it on, and use it normally. But turning your laptop off results in the entire drive being encrypted. No-one will be able to access any information at all.

[ACtheTROLL]

Figure ... your figures are right.

dudley
follow fo3's advice ... if your data matters and must be kept secret truecrypt is the best solution

I'd just add ... flash memory is volatile ... unplug it at the wrong time ... and it will just turn to cr@p
stand on it .... forget to unplug it .....(you get the idea)

if you follow fo's method ... (it's how I do it also) you could leave the virtual drive on your real drive ... the chances of anyone taking the trouble to crack the encryption is pretty remote.

and remember
like any drive ... it could fail ... so
back up the encrypted drive regularly....

after you've worked on your finances
use ccleaner
http://www.ccleaner.com/
to delete your temp files .... then
use eraser
http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/download.php
to clean the free space
(I hope you get more pocket money than I do after all this trouble)

oh and cancel all your appointments ... 'cause you won't have time to do much else